Tesla Model S Plaid Drags Modded Hellcat. Someone Is Close, But Not Close Enough

Not really, and it's enough to look at an all-Tesla contest of the quarter-mile variety to see that even though the company's models might be S3EXY, they're sure hard to hear, so our attention span is severely limited. So, even if the future of drag racing is fully electric, I am not so sure people will love it because it's too quiet.

Anyway, luckily, at least for now, we still get to cheer and applaud the sound of thundering supercharged V8 engines. Before the S650 Ford Mustang remains alone in carrying the ICE-powered torch from 2024, there are still plenty of GM hoots and Mopar heroes willing to take a swing at Tesla's Model S might and Plaid prowess. Well, at least that's the impression from this feature we have embedded below.

So, the videographer behind the Wheels channel on YouTube is a big fan of MRP and never misses a chance to show us the local brawls - especially of the EV vs. muscle car variety. As such, when not away looking for new heroes around Bandimere Speedway in Colorado or at The Strip of Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada, he keeps coming back to Canada.

Also known as 'Thunder by the River,' Mission Raceway Park is an auto racing facility in Mission, British Columbia, Canada hosting not just a nine-turn road course and an even longer motorcycle track but also an NHRA-sanctioned quarter-mile dragstrip. And on this occasion, we get to see why EV racing is fast but potentially bland while ICE-powered shenanigans always involve a potential dose of added personality.

So, on one side (called 'Farmer Lane') sits a blue Tesla Model S Plaid resembling the picture of EV serenity. On the other, meanwhile, is the exact opposite Mopar – a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat that's said to be modded to almost 1,000 horsepower and also looks the part with skinny cookie cutters at the front, massive drag radials in the back and a hood that gave us all sorts of classic muscle car feelings.

Unfortunately for fans of ICE-powered vehicles, although the Dodge owner did his best, there was no chance of overpowering the silent and deadly EV beast in the end. The first race ended with 9.44s (at 143 mph/230 kph) versus 10.06s (at 141 mph/227 kph) results, while the second skirmish was almost identical due to 9.45s versus 10.12s elapsed times. Indeed, it was close, but not close enough.

However, do not despair if you love the sound of howling V8s. From the 2:09 mark, there's Old versus New School drag racing thanks to a feisty Chevy Nova that pushed the Challenger Hellcat into the nines (9.88s versus 11.17s), and then the blue Plaid also duked it out with a Chevy Camaro ZL1 to further drive the spear into the hearts of ICE-powered fans with an even better 9.39s versus 11.3s pass!