- Viper-powered Ram SRT-10 'World's Fastest Production Pickup Truck'

- NASCAR's Brendan Gaughan Fastest Man In A Production Dodge Ram

    CHELSEA, Mich., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Dodge Ram SRT-10
 unleashed its Viper power today, taking its place in the Guinness Book of
 World Records as the "World's Fastest Production Pickup Truck."
     Only recently off the Saltillo, Mexico, assembly line and not modified in
 any way for additional power or enhanced aerodynamics, the Dodge Ram SRT-10
 posted a two-lap, both-directions average speed of 154.587 mph over a "flying
 kilometer" on the 4.71-mile oval at the DaimlerChrysler Proving Grounds here
 in Chelsea.  The record run by the Dodge Ram SRT-10 was certified by Guinness
 World Records and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).  The previous record
 was 147.54 mph, set last July by the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning, before the
 Dodge Ram SRT-10 went into production.
     "When we set out to develop the Dodge Ram SRT-10, our mission was to
 create the ultimate performance truck," said Dan Knott, Director, Street and
 Racing Technology.  "With 500 horsepower, sports car-like handling, world-
 class braking and race-inspired design appointments, we know we reached our
 goal.  Setting the Guinness record today simply confirms that, and solidifies
 the Ram SRT-10 as the ultimate -- and fastest -- performance pickup."
     According to Guinness World Records rules, the record speed had to be the
 average of two one-kilometer runs in opposite directions along the same track,
 made within an hour of one another.  The timing equipment had to be certified
 as accurate to within 1/1000th of a second, and supplied and operated by a
 qualified third party.  The speed of each run was timed by means of sensors at
 the start and finish of the measured kilometer, thus giving an average speed
 over the full distance.
     The Dodge Ram SRT-10 is the third Dodge vehicle branded with the Street
 and Racing Technology label, following the Dodge Viper SRT-10 -- the ultimate
 American sports car -- and the award-winning 230 horsepower Dodge SRT-4, that
 has taken the sport compact "tuner" crowd by storm.
     Behind the wheel of the Ram SRT-10 in the record-setting run was Brendan
 Gaughan, a six-time winner in a Dodge Ram in the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
 Series (NCTS).  Gaughan makes his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut later this month at
 the Daytona 500 in the No. 77 Kodak Dodge.
     "I've certainly driven some fast trucks," Gaughan said, "but I've
 certainly never experienced anything like setting a Guinness world record.
 I've known for a long time that the Dodge Ram is the ultimate truck for the
 race track, and this certainly proves the Ram SRT-10 is the ultimate
 performance truck for the street."
     Hein Le Roux, research team member at Guinness World Records traveled from
 the company's London headquarters to monitor the record run.
     "I'm pleased to be here in Chelsea for this record-breaking attempt," Le
 Roux said.  "Guinness World Records is the ultimate compilation of
 superlatives, and I am proud to officially recognize that Dodge has set a new
 Guinness World Record."
     Le Roux said watching the record-setting speed run was a great way to
 begin the new year, in which Guinness World Records celebrates 50 years of
 world records.
     "People aren't too surprised when they hear about expensive super cars or
 race cars setting speed records," he added.  "But few people expect a standard
 production pickup truck, which they can drive straight off the dealer lot, to
 be capable of this sort of speed.  That's what makes this such a great
 Guinness World Record."
     With a Guinness World Record now under its belt, the stock Dodge Ram SRT-
 10 now heads to Florida, where it will pace the field at the Feb. 13 Florida
 Dodge Dealers 250 NCTS race at Daytona International Speedway.
 
     Note:  Photos from the Dodge Ram SRT-10 record-setting run are available
 on the DaimlerChrysler Media Services Web site
 (http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com ).
 
 

SOURCE  Chrysler Group