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If you like the Viper, listen up! Today, the Versus network will air the first ever Dodge Viper Celebrity Challenge. Thanks to Left Lane News, we bring you the information on the event just in time for the broadcast.
The event took place on April 13th at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Also known as “Duel in the Desert,” the challenge pinned 24 motorsport celebrities against one another in a 50-minute timed race on the 2.24-mile course to raise money for a variety of charities. The broadcast will serve as an introduction to 11 weeks of Dodge Viper Cup series coverage on the Versus network.
Celebrities like NASCAR’s Penske Racing team owner Roger Penske; NASCAR drivers Sam Hornish Jr, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski; and NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson piloted Viper ACR-X models for the challenge.
Other celebrities that drove in the event included Hart and Harrington Racing team owner Carey Hart and AMA Supercross rider Ivan Tedesco; team owner and driver for Speed Energy Racing, Robbie Gordon; ARCA racer Maryeve Dufault; TORC driver and Formula Drifter Samuel Hubinette; and monster truck driver Mark Hall.
Representing the Viper community was SRT and Motorsports CEO, as well as event host, Ralph Gilles; Dodge Motorsports engineer Matt Bejnarowicz; Viper factory driver Kuno Wittmer; and Viper road-course driver and instructor Cindi Lux. Rounding out the field were Viper Cup series drivers Jeff Courtney, Jason Daskalos, Connie Bogan, Eric Galerne, Billy Gropp, Brad Gorrondona, Todd Nelson, Ted Hughes and Fred Roberts.
In the challenge, the celebrities divided into 12, 2-person teams and then took to the track for qualifying lap times. These were averaged among team members and used to determine the order for the standing start. Teams then decided the best driver rotation to complete the 50-minute race.
While Dodge is keeping the winners quiet until the broadcast, we do know that the top three teams to finish donated a total of $18,000 split between charities like the Haiti Rescue Effort, National Breast Cancer Coalition, Shriners Hospital, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Children’s Rare Disease Network and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
To see the race, tune into the Versus network today, October 9th, at 3pm (EST). We know we’ll be watching.
