That same year in National Hot Rod Association competition, Don Garlits broke the 200-mph barrier in the Gen II 426 Race HEMI-powered dragster travelling the quarter-mile straight-line distance in 7.78 seconds at 201.34 mph.

For the following season, NASCAR’s sanctioning body changed the rules mandating that all engines used for its races must be available in production vehicles. This led to the withdrawal from NASCAR competition for the 1965 season and saw Chrysler engineers concentrate their efforts in drag racing.

This A990 was in a 1965 Coronet Super Stock car.  (Mecum Auction photo)

A new lighter drag racing package, referred to as A-990, debuted in the NHRA Super Stock class in 1965 in Dodge and Plymouth vehicles with altered wheelbases, launching the popularity of Funny Cars. To this day, a version of that engine still powers every single Funny Car and Top Fuel engine regardless of being badged by other manufacturers.

With the introduction of the 426 “Street” HEMI in 1966 for production vehicles, the HEMI made a return to NASCAR racing.  During the next several years, vehicles with HEMI engines won countless races, numerous championships in various professional categories and were feared by competitors.

With the availability of a Street HEMI, Chrysler no longer offered a special drag racing engine. Instead, drag racers were provided with the street version, which they could modify at their discretion. The only exception was the limited edition 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracudas that remained powered by the 426 Race HEMI, with only 75 of each model produced.

Lloyd Wofford’s ‘Cuda and David Barton’s Dart at the 2013 HEMI Challenge.  (Chris Haverly photo)

The heritage of those special vehicles is celebrated each year by Mopar with the HEMI Challenge that takes place in the Sportsman class at the NHRA’s prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. The HEMI Challenge made its debut in 2001 and features these classic muscle cars, which contributed to the brand’s legendary reputation and success at the drag strip.