Dodge Finally Puts A V8 Under The Charger's Hood
Dodge is just teasing us now—the automaker is bringing the V8 Charger back for SEMA 2025, meet the Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff, proof that a Hemi V8 fits under the hood of America's latest muscle car.
Key Points
- The 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak reintroduces a supercharged 354-cubic-inch Hemi V8 to the Charger lineup—but exclusively for drag racing, not street use.
- Limited to just 50 units, the Drag Pak is a factory-built, NHRA-certified race car developed for the Factory Stock Showdown class, featuring carbon-fiber body panels, an adjustable four-link rear suspension, and a full roll cage.
- Marking the first project under Dodge’s revived SRT division, the Drag Pak underscores the brand’s continued investment in internal combustion and motorsport engineering, even as its mainstream lineup transitions toward hybrid and electric powertrains.
Dodge has revealed the 2026 Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak, a purpose-built, factory-engineered drag car designed specifically for the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) series. It’s the first official motorsports project under the newly revived Street and Racing Technology (SRT) banner; more importantly, it's the first official installation of a V8 under the hood of the new Charger.
The “Hustle Stuff” name maps back to Mopar’s 1970s performance parts catalog, which offered grassroots racers technical diagrams and tuning tips. Unlike the road-going Charger, which offers only inline-six and electric powertrains, the Hustle Stuff Drag Pak jams a supercharged 354-cubic-inch Gen III Hemi V8. The wet-sump engine is a proper strip weapon with forged internals, including an eight-counterweight crankshaft, H-beam connecting rods, and Diamond aluminum pistons.
A massive 3.0-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger crowns the engine and force feeds air into the cylinders, while a Holley Dominator ECU and Racepak Smartwire data system handle power management. Official horsepower figures aren’t published.
Power routes through a Coan Racing XLT three-speed automatic transmission with a 9.65-inch torque converter, feeding a Mark Williams modular 9-inch rear axle with 4.30:1 gears. A lightweight 7075 aluminum driveshaft is standard, with an optional carbon-fiber version available for hot shoes chasing every fraction of time.
The Drag Pak’s suspension setup includes an adjustable four-link rear with double-adjustable coilovers, a lightweight K-member, and aluminum control arms, allowing teams to fine-tune launch characteristics.
In terms of weight, Dodge claims the Charger Drag Pak sheds 100 pounds compared to the last-gen Challenger Drag Pak, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber in the hood, doors, rear hatch, and fascia. The automaker hasn’t provided a final curb weight, but NHRA’s minimum for Factory Stock competition is around 3,600 pounds.
Inside, this Charger looks nothing like one of its road-going siblings. It comes equipped with a full NHRA-certified chromoly roll cage rated to 7.50-second quarter-mile times, Sabelt racing seats and harnesses, and integrated controls for line-lock, launch tuning, and data logging. The car rides on WELD Racing forged aluminum double beadlock wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson drag radials, and stopping power comes from a four-piston aluminum brake system with cross-drilled rotors.
Only 50 examples of the 2026 Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak will be built, each stickered at $234,995. Every car will be prepped by Riley Technologies in Mooresville, North Carolina. Dodge is sweetening the deal with a $26,000 contingency payout for the first owner to win an NHRA Factory Stock Showdown event in 2026.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
More by Michael Accardi
Comments
Join the conversation
A toy for rich guys...cool. Now release a sub 40k base model R/T with a V8 and a six speed manual.
Not a hemi... a hp engine that has a hemi sticker on it.