Battle of the Vipers: New vs. Old

What do these two Dodge Vipers have in common? Both pack 10 cylinders under the hood, and both are primed to compete in the Ultimate Track Car Challenge – though that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Nic Spruill’s Viper, a 1997 GTS model, makes do with 570 horsepower thanks to aftermarket headers and an exhaust, along with a port and polished cam. According to Spruill, the car might also have a stroker kit, but that hasn't been verified.

Lee Saunders’ 2010 Viper ACR–mostly stock aside from a set of Penske shocks–still has 520 horsepower on tap, which seems to be plenty to stay competitive in Trans Am’s Super GT class. Saunders also credits that power as the car's greatest strength on track.

What is the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge? It’s our annual no-holds-barred track competition. The only rule is that car and driver must pass a NASA safety inspection.

View this car, along with the rest of the field, on the accepted entries page.

If you think your car has what it takes to win, enter it here.

The 2022 UTCC returns to Virginia International Raceway May 13-14 in the center of NASA’s HyperFest weekend.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports in association with Wilwood EngineeringCRC IndustriesDeatschWerksHP TunersSPA Technique and Volkswagen, with trophies from BimmerWorldXS Power BatteriesThe Sensor ConnectionTrack Advantage, Stifflers and Hoosier Tire.