The U.S. Nationals is the most prestigious event in the drag racing universe. Everything at this event is amped up, and that’s why it’s the perfect place for the HEMI Challenge to take place. In 2024, the HEMI Challenge was elevated to a new level thanks to the McCandless Collection’s support. The Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection brought tradition and horsepower together at The Big Go.

The HEMI Challenge is a special race-within-the-race at that’s held during the U.S. Nationals for SS/AH 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas. These cars were built to be Super Stock class kings by the manufacturers, and they ruled the class with an iron fist. There are racers who spend an entire year getting ready just for this one event, it’s that big of a deal.

Herb McCandless and Buddy Martin of Sox & Martin are Mopar royalty. McCandless was a team driver for Sox & Martin, and won numerous events during his career. Martin’s role within the team as the business brain helped drive their success into the stratosphere. Both spent time in the booth at the 2024 Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection telling stories about their days at the track.

What many don’t realize is the 2024 HEMI Challenge almost didn’t happen. Thankfully, Herb’s son Mike stepped in to make sure the HEMI Challenge would not only continue, but grow into an even better event going forward.

“My original goal with the HEMI Challenge was just to show up like we normally do, throw dad in the tower, and that would be the extent of our responsibilities. However, in April, we learned there was a chance that the event might disappear. As much as this event means to my dad and the history of drag racing, I felt it was important to make sure it continued on. So, we stepped up and signed a three-year contract to use the Sox & Martin licensing agreement we hold to help keep the event going,” Mike says.

According to Mike, since racers see the HEMI Challenge will continue, they’re working on finishing cars and coming to the event. The 24-car field at the 2024 Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection is proof of how bright the event’s future is.

If you’re looking for a dominant driver in the Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection, you can stop at Steve Comella. For the past four years, Comella has owned this event and that’s an impressive feat.

Comella’s weekend wasn’t a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. The field was filled with the best SS/AH cars being piloted by the likes of the Charlie Wescott Jr. Jim Pancake, Jimmy Daniels, Bucky Hess, and multi-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jason Line. The 8.42 that Comella laid down in qualifying put him in the number one spot, which is amazing considering he had to repair his Barracuda’s engine during the course of the event.

After four rounds of brutal competition, Comella found himself lined up against Bucky Hess in the finals. Comella showed his opponent no mercy and laid down a booming 8.396 run to secure the victory and $15,000 prize.

If you want to see a true drag racing spectacle, the Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection is a must-see event. These cars represent a special time in drag racing history, and to see them running head-to-head is like traveling back in time.