The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 marks the absolute peak of muscle cars. Because, likely never again will we see such a car offered with such performance capabilities, for such a price. As customers get their hands on the 1,025 hp super muscle car, their first instinct is to take it to the track to make a few runs and achieve a factory-rated 8.9-second quarter-mile. Though the vehicle does not need any enhancements, some changes could be made to surpass the official Dodge time for the muscle car, and somebody has managed to do it.
According to Stellpower, the owner of the 2023 Dodge Challenger Demon 170, Lee Saunders, was the driver of what is now the world record-holder muscle car. Saunders and Gearhead Fabrications worked together to give the beast of a car aftermarket wheels and a mild transmission tune; the team removed the passenger seat and speaker assembly from the trunk and replaced the stock battery with a lightweight unit; the result? A car that managed to race down the quarter mile in just 8.896 seconds with a speed of 150.60 miles per hour. Goodness gracious.
Image via Dodge.
Lee Saunders laid down his record-breaking quarter mile time thanks to shaving some weight off the vehicle. On that run, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 pulled a 1.235 60-foot time and passed the 8th of a mile marker in just 5.671 seconds at 122.1 MPH. The story becomes more apparent when comparing these results against the official Dodge run of 8.91 seconds. The car driven by Jim Wilder pulled a 1.244 60-foot time and reached the 8th of a mile marker in 5.677 seconds at 121.77 mph.
This shows how much of a difference one can make simply by removing some weight from a vehicle to improve its performance. While Saunders and Gearhead have set the bar for the world’s quickest Demon 170, this is just the beginning. The team plans to install a lightweight Kirkey racing seat for the next trip to the track with hopes of surpassing the record they’ve already set.
