Dodge Viper Cup Series

As the speedy Dodge Viper wraps up production, it gets the chance to make one last showcase. The Viper Cup race series will feature a total of 10 events held at five tracks across the country, starting this weekend. The rules are pretty simple: entrants must take to the field in more or less identical 2010 Viper ACR-X models. The winner walks away with $6,500 in cold hard cash, plus another $1,000 in Mopar Vouchers for parts and the like. Prizes trickle down from there.

Each car in the series is a purpose-built Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X, 640 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque from its massive 8.4-liter V-10 engine. The car weighs 160 pounds less than the production model, and features a full aerodynamic package to improve downforce at high speeds. In short, they’re monsters, and should make for some brilliant racing on the track.

This weekend will actually see the first two events run, as the series doubles up at each track it’s going to, with a race on both Saturday and Sunday of each race weekend. First up is Virginia International Raceway, followed by Hallett Raceway, Pocono Raceway, Miller Motorsports Park, and Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. The cable network Versus will be broadcasting each event in a 30-minute show format, so while the action won’t be live, folks can enjoy it throughout the country.  Dodge has also even thrown in a few “celebrity” names into the event, including Shaun Bailey, the associate engineering editor at Road & Track, and Sergent Michael Kohn, of Olympic bobsled renown.