Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 Drags Two Ford Mustangs, Surprise Pure Humiliation Ensues

Stellantis – which is not doing too well across the US automotive market this year – ordained for Dodge to cease production of the L-bodied third-gen Challenger coupe and the seventh-gen Charger sedan back in December 2023. Now, there are just a few examples left across inventory at dealers nationwide, so you would be very lucky to have snatched one. Instead, Dodge would very much like its customers to ponder the potential purchase of the all-new STLA Large-based eighth-generation Charger instead.

The model returns to its traditional fastback coupe format but also keeps the sedan body style to cover for both its predecessor and the defunct Challenger – but it won't be available with the mighty Hemi V8 anymore. Instead, it will have Daytona EV powertrains (up to 670 hp) and the new 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six mill under the hood, complete with 420 or 550 horsepower.

Alas, suppose you still want to see some Challenger action. In that case, it's not hard – because folks quickly snatched the 'Last Call' special editions off the dealer lots, including the mighty 1,025-horsepower (on E85) 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the pinnacle of the series and of the drag-racing-oriented versions.  For example, we could easily check out what's happening around the North American quarter-mile dragstrips when searching for Mopar action.

More precisely, the videographer behind the Wheels channel on YouTube is a big fan of Mission Raceway Park, located in British Columbia, Canada, and also of built versus bought action – when there's something interesting going on between them. Naturally, a purple Dodge Demon 170 qualifies for the task, even when fighting against old, apparently derelict foes like the Fox Body Ford Mustang.

However, these little rascals have a surprising redeeming quality – they're great sleepers in the hands of experts from across the aftermarket realm, as the Mopar owner is about to find out. Everything starts as per tradition at the track that's nicknamed 'Thunder by the River.' The Demon 170 lines up for the pre-race burnout, and alongside it comes a white Fox Body Ford Mustang that looks like it has seen better days.

Alas, a keen observer will notice a thing or two – starting with the massive tires on the rear axle and with the big exhaust tucked on the side of the front bumper. Even so, Mopar fans would look pretty confident heading to the start line – given the mighty Demon 170 that lines up with a meager, puny Fox Body. Well, as it turns out, the big twist is obvious right from the onset – the Fox Body starts like a rocket and takes control of the race.

It never relinquishes it until the end of the skirmish despite this Demon 170's best efforts, and unfortunately for the Mopar fans, we will count this one as surprise pure humiliation, despite the small gap: 9.78s at almost 144 mph versus 10.04s at a little over 144 mph! No worries, the Dodge Challenger quickly takes revenge on the next Fox Body, which looks a bit too well-dressed with ample body modifications and countless stickers on it.

This time around, though, it's the Mopar racer that runs the hostilities: 10.35s versus 12.84s, which is a much more traditional result considering the age difference between these feisty machines, right?