There are few American cars that are as cool and iconic as the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 and the Dodge Challenger Black Ghost. At the same time, these two thoroughbreds really are totally different animals in terms of the way that they perform. A U-drag race makes the difference between a muscle car and a sports car very clear.
A U-drag race gets its name from the track design. Both cars begin the race from a standing start and drag race a full quarter of a mile before hitting a braking zone where they turn around as fast as they can and then accelerate back to the original starting line. The test parses out where different performance cars stand out and where they shrink in the spotlight.
That’s key because the 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500 and the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost are nearly identical on paper. The Mustang makes 760 hp (566 kW) while the Challenger makes 807 (601 kW). The Mustang weighs 4,168 pounds (1890 Kg) while the Challenger tips the scales at 4,476 pounds (2030 Kg). Each one uses an automatic gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and a supercharged V8 too.
Read: Mustang Shelby GT500 Takes On Corvette Z06 In Latest U-Drag Race
The differences come out in this pair of races though as the Dodge gets the jump in each. Those big sticky tires and that extra power help it launch off of the line harder than the Shelby can. At the same time, the power-to-weight ratio in the Mustang is slightly better so once it’s got grip it reels in the big Dodge.
By the end of the quarter mile, the Shelby leads and then continues to stretch that lead through the turn and back to the finish. The 2-0 score at the end of these races proves just how much sharper a modern American sports car can be compared to an old-school American muscle car.
The Challenger simply can’t stop or turn nearly as fast and the Shelby takes full advantage. Some of that lack of performance comes down to the extra weight and some of it comes down to the ludicrously old chassis that underpins the Challenger.