One Lap of America: Hot Laps in the SRT Challenger at Carolina Motorsports Park

I knew that Chrysler design engineers Ralph Giles and Erich Heuschele were nice guys, but I can’t believe they were crazy enough to let Suzy Bruisy take their 2009 SRT Challenger out on the track for some laps! Riding shotgun was Steven Rankins’ wife Jane, a former autocrosser, who coached me through the turns. The Challenger had a big-car feel like the AMC I’m used to, but it stuck to the track like it was on rails. Though I was a little apprehensive after what happened to the last one, the new Challenger wouldn’t break loose even when I pushed it. There was one back straightaway on the CMS road course where I was able to punch it to just over 90 mph with the hammer down on the 6.1 L Hemi, not realizing that they want you to keep the speed down around 50 mph during "touring laps." While I might’ve used up a little too much of Ralph and Erich’s race gas, they were stoked to find that I’d worn off the tire chaff so they’d be better prepped for their "real" run shortly later. Hope I helped get you some extra tenths, guys! More pics after the jump.