It’s September 2024, and you’re standing trackside at Richmond Raceway. The air crackles with anticipation, and the crowd’s excitement is palpable. Suddenly, the silence is shattered by a sound that’s part banshee wail, part thunderclap. Four Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X beasts explode onto the track, each packing over 1,000 horsepower of all-electric fury. Welcome to Dodge’s grand entrance into the Nitrocross Series – a move that will redefine “American muscle” for the electric age.
Nitrocross kicked off back in 2020 with none other than Travis Pastrana at the helm. Pastrana does not know how to cruise. With him, it’s WIDE OPEN THROTTLE or don’t bother. Of course the series is one of the most popular and fastest-growing forms of motorsport in North America. With features like 200’ jumps and race cars battling inches apart (yes, there is contact. Like… LOTS and LOTS of fender to quarter panel racing) on courses combining challenging asphalt to dirt transitions and the best Rally Cross drivers on the planet, your brain simply will not believe what your eyes are seeing!
The swarm of Hornet R/T FC1-Xs is ready, and this quote from Nitrocross General Manager Chip Pankow sums things up perfectly. “Nitrocross is thrilled to welcome Dodge to the series as our first official manufacturer entry. Dodge is about performance, and so are we, and we can’t wait to see them prove it on the track!”
Everyone, meet the Dodge Nitrocross team. Dodge Nitrocross team, meet Everyone! At the helm of this electric revolution is the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) team, a name that carries the weight of racing royalty. Two-time Group E series champion Robin Larsson is leading their charge, flanked by a roster that reads like a who’s who of rally racing: Fraser McConnell, Andreas Bakkerud, and 17-year-old phenom Lia Block. Yes, that Block – as in Ken Block’s daughter. Talk about motorsport dynasties colliding!
When digging into the hows and whys of Dodge’s journey into Nitrocross, I didn’t have to dig too deep to discover that Dodge and the Nitrocross series have a mutual love for pushing boundaries. What we do when we’re younger impacts what we do later in life, and the early days of Dodge dominating drag strips and NASCAR ovals have left a mark. You can hear it in the way they describe these new electric beasts.
Now, let’s talk about the Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X. With four axial flux motors generating the equivalent of 1,070 horsepower, these machines don’t just accelerate – they bend the laws of physics. We’re talking 0-60 in 1.4 seconds. That’s fast enough to rearrange your internal organs and make you question your life choices, all before you hit second gear. And with nearly 2g of acceleration from a standing start, these cars don’t just jump the 200-foot gaps common in Nitrocross – they practically achieve low Earth orbit.
The common denominator here is performance. The not-so-common side of the Dodge world is the unbridled creativity carefully crafted and executed on the vehicles Dodge enthusiasts drive. We see the same inventiveness, planning, and execution in Dodge’s Nitrocross entry. Whether it’s for their own brand, a massive racing series, or a private enthusiast’s garage, the same level of attention is given to each project.
Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO, was asked where this journey into Nitrocross started. Not surprisingly, he said, “We’re looking forward to a great inaugural Nitrocross season for the Dodge brand, with a championship-winning organization like Dreyer & Reinbold Racing carrying the Dodge banner and with fans getting the chance to experience the Dodge Hornet up close and personal through our Dodge Hornet Rally Rides. It all starts at Richmond!”
The Nitrocross season kicks off on September 7-8 at Richmond Raceway, with events planned across the country from Utah to Miami. It’s a high-voltage road trip! These Hornets are electric in every sense of the word, and with 1000+ horsepower, we are all in for a treat! Get ready to watch them defy gravity over jumps that would make Evel Knievel nervous. Catch all 10 rounds of the Nitrocross 2024-2025 season starting with…
Utah Motorsports Campus in Salt Lake City (Oct. 5-6)
Firebird Motorsports Park near Phoenix (Nov. 15-16)
Miami Marine Stadium (Jan. 11-12)
Las Vegas course (March 1-2)
Whether you’re a die-hard Dodge fan or just someone who appreciates the finer things in life, like watching 1,000-horsepower electric vehicles rewrite the rule books concerning performance, the Dodge Nitrocross adventure is something you won’t want to miss. As we stand on the brink of this new era, one thing is clear: Dodge isn’t just adapting to the future of motorsports – they’re defining it. The revolution is here, and it’s electric. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be one hell of a ride!
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