1000HP monster Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat drags Tesla Model S Plaid in the ultimate gas vs EV battle
Published on May 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on May 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Talk about the ultimate gas vs EV battle. This is what went down when a 1000hp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat took on a Tesla Model S Plaid in a drag race.
There’s no shortage of drag race videos out there on the internet, but this one still manages to make its mark.
Let’s face it, people love the thrill of taking on a Tesla.
But the question is – can they beat a Tesla when it comes down to the nitty gritty?
Let the rubber meet the road – the Tesla Model S Plaid VS the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Picture it – MRP, aka Thunder by the River, in Mission, British Columbia, Canada.
This quarter-mile dragstrip is playing host to a blue Tesla Model S Plaid and a silver-black Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
On paper, these cars are about equally matched.
But if you’re a frequent viewer of drag races, you know this won’t mean all that much out on the track.
After all, the drivers at the helms of these cars have to put the car to proper use.
So it came down to a quarter mile race to really separate the wheat from the chaff.
Both cars had a good start from the off, but it was the Tesla which got the edge.
And it was an edge it maintained until the finish line, leaving its rival behind.
The Tesla clocked 9.45 seconds at 148mph, while the Challenger pulled in a respectable but slower 10.12 seconds at 140mph.
Will this race be enough to quell the flames of the ever-burning EV versus ICE debate?
We wouldn’t bet on it.
Whatever the results, drag races are real nailbiters
We’re not sure what it is, but there’s definitely a pattern of people wanting to race Teslas.
Maybe it’s because the manufacturer has been a big dog for so long, and other drivers want to have the chance to one-up it.
We’ve seen a whole host of cars vying to be a challenger for the EV brand.
It was a race to behold when the Corvette ZR1 rolled up to the plate in an American heavyweights showdown.
Things certainly got spicy when this heavily modified McLaren 570S rose to the occasion.
And it’s not just cars that are being put forth as a contender – remember this drag race with a Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike?
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
