Speeding through a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds is no small feat. In the current age of powerful stock muscle cars and high-horsepower EVs, it might seem a bit lacking. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Super Stock featured in this 1320 Video clip stands out not due to its modifications, but due to its driver: a blind man named Sheldon.
Sheldon, a spirited car enthusiast, regularly engages in drag races despite his visual impairment. His latest ride, a 2023 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Super Stock, has undergone some minor tweaks, with more upgrades planned for the future. Witness Sheldon’s debut drag race with his new Hellcat at the Alaska Raceway Park drag strip through this video.
The Hellcat Super Stock, essentially a renamed Challenger Demon, packs a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 generating 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. Despite Sheldon’s few minor engine adjustments like a mid-pipe deletion and a carbon fiber air intake, it’s close to its factory power output. Furthermore, the Super Stock ranks among the lightest Challenger Hellcats built by Dodge, weighing around 4,450 pounds. Although Dodge offers a $1 option to remove the passenger seat, Sheldon opted to keep it, relying on his passenger to guide him during his runs down the track.
On his initial run, Sheldon eased into it to adapt to the car’s behavior, though he faced limitations with traction control affecting his launch. After a warm-up and disabling the driver aids, Sheldon managed to clock an impressive 11.5-second quarter-mile time. Throughout the run, his passenger provided gentle guidance on the steering wheel to ensure a straight trajectory, crucial at a 123 mph trap speed where even a minor steering error can lead to a catastrophe.
Can you fathom the bravery it takes to sit behind the wheel of an 800-horsepower beast without sight and then unleash full throttle? Sheldon’s dependence on both his vehicle and his passenger’s support is truly laudable.
The video is a must-watch in its entirety. Sheldon’s journey with his Hellcat is far from over. With upcoming modifications, he aspires to break into the ten-second realm next year and ultimately challenge a man named Dan Parker, reputedly the world’s quickest blind driver, having achieved 211 mph in his Chevy Corvette. Let’s cheer for Sheldon’s pursuit of that goal.
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