2026 Dodge Charger Drag Pak Debuts at NHRA Gatornationals

Stellantis reports the debut of the 2026 Dodge Charger Drag Pak with a 354 HEMI V-8 at the NHRA Gatornationals. Explore key facts from the season opener.

The 2026 NHRA season opens in Gainesville with a milestone moment for Dodge. At the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals, the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak makes its official competition debut, marking the first factory-built drag racing version of the next-generation Charger. Developed by Direct Connection and overseen by the reestablished SRT Performance division, the car signals a new chapter for Dodge in Factory Stock Showdown competition.

Behind the wheel is two-time Factory Stock Showdown champion Mark Pawuk, who secured back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025 driving a Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. The veteran racer has acknowledged that the new Charger differs significantly from the previous Challenger platform and will require continued development, yet he has also emphasized the car’s potential. The 2026 campaign coincides with NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, adding further weight to the debut.

The Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak is powered by a 354-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 and will be built in a strictly limited run of 50 serialized units. Each car is NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown competition. The program continues Dodge’s modern Drag Pak lineage that began in 2009 with the Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, when the initial production of 100 factory-built cars quickly sold out to grassroots racers. Since then, factory drag packages have become a cornerstone of Dodge’s Sportsman racing presence.

Factory Stock Showdown remains a battleground for late-model American muscle machinery, with a nine-race schedule in 2026. Gainesville Raceway, host of the Gatornationals since 1970, traditionally launches the NHRA season and stands as one of drag racing’s most historic venues.

Dodge’s presence at the Gatornationals extends beyond the Drag Pak debut. As part of the NHRA 75th anniversary celebrations, four drag racing legends — Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and Warren Johnson — will compete in special exhibition “Legends” races driving production 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack models powered by the 3.0-liter Twin Turbo SIXPACK High Output engine. Fans will also experience Dodge Thrill Rides, riding along in Charger Scat Pack models equipped with features such as Launch Control, Line Lock and a rear-wheel-drive mode capable of sending 100 percent of torque to the rear wheels.

In the nitro ranks, Tony Stewart Racing drivers Leah Pruett and four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan begin their 2026 campaigns in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, underlining Dodge’s continued involvement across multiple NHRA categories.

The renewed SRT Performance division, combined with the announced return of the Ram brand to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026, reflects a broader motorsports strategy within Stellantis. Against this backdrop, the debut of the Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak appears less a standalone launch and more a clear signal of Dodge’s sustained factory commitment to American drag racing.