2014-01-10
[ Chrysler Group LLC press release ]
Mopar Introduces "Mopar Muscle": First New Monster Truck in More Than a
Decade
Mopar Joins Hall Brothers Racing's Ram Truck Lineup for Monster Jam
- Mopar joins the championship Ram monster truck lineup with Hall Brothers
Racing in 2014
- "Mopar Muscle" monster truck to be unveiled at the Monster Jam event Jan.
11 in Detroit
- Mopar-sponsored machine is the first new Monster Truck introduced in more
than a decade
- Mopar Muscle will sport a new logo celebrating the 50th anniversary of the
Gen II 426 HEMI
- Mike Miller to drive Mopar Muscle in six Monster Jam events; has a son
named Hemi
January 10, 2014, Auburn Hills, Mich. - Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service,
parts and customer-care brand, will be taking to the Monster Truck Racing
Series arena with the new "Mopar Muscle" Ram monster truck beginning with the
Monster Jam event in Detroit on Jan. 11.
The Mopar-sponsored machine joins the Hall Brothers Racing's championship
winning trucks "Raminator" and "Rammunition" for six Monster Jam events in
2014. The Ram Truck brand has proudly sponsored the team since 2002.
"We're excited to have Mopar make its first foray into the world of monster
trucks by joining the Ram brand in this popular and competitive exhibition
series with a such a passionate and loyal following," said Pietro Gorlier,
President and CEO -- Mopar, Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care
brand. "So much of what Mopar does is applicable to the general consumer, but
occasionally we like to show just how capable our brand is of really extreme
performance. This is a great and fun opportunity for us to do that with Mopar
Muscle and the Hall Brothers."
Mopar Muscle is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) monster truck
to be introduced into the Monster Jam series in more than a decade. Monster
Jam is the premier monster truck racing event series, with a 14-race schedule
that features traditional bracket racing and a freestyle competition.
Standing an imposing 10 feet high and weighing 10,300 pounds, Mopar's
2000-horsepower monster truck is based on a 2014 Ram Heavy Duty truck. It is
powered by a 565 cubic inch supercharged version of the iconic Gen II 426
HEMI engine, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014. Mopar Muscle
will sport a special orange 50th anniversary HEMI logo, launching a year-long
tribute by Mopar to commemorate the introduction of the engine that has since
seen much success and strongly impacted both the motorsport and automotive
industries.
"We are very proud of our new Mopar Muscle Ram monster truck," said Tim Hall
owner and crew chief for the Champaign, Ill.-based team. "It looks really
fantastic, and I can't wait to see it run. Mopar has a long and storied
history of winning across many forms of racing, so we intend on helping to
make their entry into monster truck racing just as successful."
Hall Brothers Racing is no stranger to success. Driver Mark Hall has garnered
eight "Driver of the Year" honors at the helm of Raminator, which is the 2013
winner of the coveted "Truck of the Year" award, claiming its seventh title
since 2002. Along with Rammunition, driven by Mat Dishman, the team boasts a
total of 20 season point championships.
Hoping to contribute to that success, Mike Miller will take the wheel of Mopar
Muscle for the six events it will participate in this season.
"The Mopar Muscle Ram is a fantastic ride, and I am really looking forward to
competing with it," said Miller who has been with the team since 2011. "The
iconic HEMI engine has won a lot of races across many categories in
motorsports, and I intend to add to that list.
"On a personal level, not only have I been passionate about monster trucks
since my childhood, but I am really honored to fly the Mopar banner. If you
need any indication of how much I love the brand, my own son is named Hemi."
Partnering with the Hall Brothers and extending Mopar's reach into monster
trucks felt like a perfect fit to Tricia Hecker, Marketing Director -- Mopar,
who sees the benefits of participating in a series that appeals to an audience
with similar passion and core values as the brand.
"It wasn't just the display of power and performance that made this a good fit
for Mopar, but the environment is just so family-oriented," said Hecker, who
brings her own sons to Monster truck events. "With such a strong youth
following, we see this as a fantastic way to have a new generation of fans
grow up with the Mopar name."
In anticipation of the Mopar Muscle.s first appearance on track, fans will be
able to get their first close-up look at the new truck during Monster Jam's
"Party in the Pits" from 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET, Jan. 11 at Ford Field. The $10
pre-show experience gives aficionados access to the racetrack, the opportunity
to meet Hall Brothers Racing drivers Mike Miller and Mark Hall, collect
autographs, take photos, and explore the obstacles competitors jump over and
eventually destroy.
Mopar Muscle will compete at the following events during the 2014 season:
- January 11 -- Monster Jam in Detroit, Mich.
- February 22 -- Monster Jam in Arlington, Texas
- May 16-18 -- 4 Wheel Jamboree in Lima, Ohio
- June 21-22 -- 4 Wheel Jamboree in Springfield, Mo.
- July 11-13 -- 4 Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pa.
- September 19-21 -- 4 Wheel Jamboree in Indianapolis, Ind.
For Mopar and Ram Truck fans who can't make it to Monster Jam events in
person, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 will begin telecasting the competition
this January. Check local listings for broadcast times.
About Ram Truck Brand
The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define
its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a
distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core
customers use their trucks and what new features they'd like to see. Whether
focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a
hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial
vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.
The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the
market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing
substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined
interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their
capabilities. Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding
range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of
capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.
Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand and
distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the industrial
alliance between Chrysler Group and FIAT SpA, Mopar is extending its global
reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to
enhance dealer and customer support worldwide. Mopar's global portfolio
includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories that are distributed in more
than 130 markets. Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for
Chrysler Group brands as well as FIAT brands.
Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that
create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler Group and FIAT
vehicles -- a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can
provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is
available at www.mopar.com.
More than 75 Years of Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words Motor and PARts) was trademarked for
antifreeze product in 1937. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s -- the
muscle-car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and
Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar
carried a line of "special parts" for super-stock drag racers and developed
its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and
handling for both road and racing use. The brand has expanded to include
technical service and customer support.
