At first glance, a 6th-generation Honda Civic going up against a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 in a drag race seems laughable. The Demon was built specifically for drag racing, while the Civic is known more as a commuter car.
But this particular Civic, with a turbocharged H22 engine and some serious modifications, proves that even a humble Honda can embarrass one of the most powerful American muscle cars on the drag strip.
Dodge Challenger: Built for the Drag Strip
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is a drag racing beast. It boasts 1,025 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat Hemi V8 engine.
This car can cover the quarter-mile in just 8.91 seconds at 151 mph, making it one of the fastest production cars ever. From the factory, it comes equipped with massive Mickey Thompson drag radials and an array of drive modes that optimize performance for the track.
The car was designed to demolish everything in its path, and it can easily get you kicked off an NHRA-sanctioned track if you break the 9-second barrier without a proper roll cage.
But on this race night, something surprising happened: the Demon was left in the dust by a heavily modified Honda Civic.
The Civic: Built to Surprise
The Civic in question isn’t your everyday grocery-getter. This 6th-gen Honda has been transformed into a drag strip monster, thanks to a turbocharged H22 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood.
The H22 engine, originally found in cars like the Honda Prelude and Accord, was known for making up to 217 horsepower in stock form. But with turbocharging and extensive modifications, this particular Civic has become a force to be reckoned with. In fact, the Civic’s owner revealed that it is now all-wheel drive, which is a big advantage on the track.
The Civic, nicknamed “El Cherry,” was running on drag slicks at all four corners to ensure maximum grip. Dark plexiglass windows and a hood-exit exhaust were other telltale signs that this was no ordinary Civic. And while we don’t know the exact power output, this car has clearly been tuned to produce serious horsepower – likely enough to rival the Demon’s 1,000 hp.
The Race: David vs. Goliath
Thanks to 360-degree cameras, we can see the entire race unfold. The Demon, as expected, gets off to a strong start and pulls ahead out of the hole. But halfway down the track, the Civic comes roaring back and overtakes the Demon, winning by a full car length.
It’s an incredible sight – a lightweight, heavily modified Honda humbling one of the most powerful muscle cars ever built.
The Honda’s owner has likely invested a small fortune into turning the Civic into a drag strip dominator. And while the Demon is impressive in its own right, this race proves that no car should ever be underestimated.
What’s Going on With El Cherry?
This Civic has been around for a few years, and previous videos show it making 660 horsepower with 23 psi of boost, which was enough for a 10.26-second quarter-mile time.
Since then, it’s clearly been tuned even further, as it’s now running a 5.4-second 1/8 mile, which is a full second faster than what the Demon 170 can achieve over the same distance.
Honda’s H22 engine, once used in cars like the Prelude Type-S in Japan, has become a favorite for drag racing builds. With turbocharging, these engines can easily make 1,000 horsepower or more, making them dangerous opponents on the track, even for seasoned racers.
While it may look like an old commuter car, El Cherry is anything but and on this night, it proved that even the mighty Dodge Demon can be taken down by a well-built Honda.
