One Lap Challenger photos

As reported earlier, the Chrysler SRT team has returned to the One Lap of America week-long competition (whose details have been covered from the inside by the Mopar Action team). The series kicks off tomorrow, April 30, at the Tire Rack facility in South Bend, Indiana, but many cars are already there.

Cyndy Yates, the photographer, called the first image “the Cannonball shot;” she was striving to match the series’ marketing graphic, which commemorates Brock Yates’ (and Steve Behr’s) run in a 1972 Dodge Challenger. Celebrating Yates’ and Behr’s run, the 2011 Challenger has large Hella spotlights up front and several graphic additions.

Ralph Gilles noted that “we’re looking forward to receiving some unique and real time feedback from such a grueling event.” SRT engineers Erich Heuschele and Adam Forte’s past experience may well have been used to refine SRT cars. This year, they will be driving a stock 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8, in the SSGT2 Big Bore class. It will be Heuschele’s sixth time; the dynamics engineer will be trying for a fourth class win. It is Forte’s first race.

Following the opening round wet skid pad competition at the Tire Rack track on April 30, participants will travel to and compete at the following locations:

• Grissom Air Force Base near Kokomo, Ind., for timed Solo II (autocross) on Saturday, April 30
• Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, W. Va., for time trials on Sunday, May 1
• Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, South Carolina, for time trials on Monday, May 2
• BMW Performance Center, Greer, South Carolina, for time trials on Monday, May 2
• Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla., for time trials on Tuesday, May 3
• Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Florida, for drag and bracket races on Tuesday, May 3
• Circuit Grand Bayou, Belle Rose, Louisiana., for time trials on Wednesday, May 4
• Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama, for time trials on Thursday, May 5
• Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Illinois, for time trials on Friday, May 6

Then it’s back to the Tire Rack’s test track for the final skid pad event on Saturday, May 7 where winners will be announced.