Rear - Leaf Springs

In 1968, Dodge completely redesigned the Charger in anticipation of producing a car with improved aerodynamics over those of the first generation Charger.  In 1968, Ford introduced the fastback Torinos and Cyclones for NASCAR competition.  Dodge responded with what it believed at the time to be a solution in the redesigned Charger.   During the 1968 NASCAR Grand National Season, Hylton Motorsports built its own 1968 Charger.   The car was the first Grand National race car built in the Hylton Motorsports shops in Inman, SC.  "We built both of the them from street cars at the shop" states Hylton "we bought engines from Nichels Engineering but we did the engine refurbishing ourselves."

During the 1968 season, it soon became apparent that even with the reliable 426 Hemi, the second generation Charger had aerodynamic issues.   For 1969, Dodge flush-mounted the rear window over the recessed 68 Charger backlight.  Dodge also installed a wider nose based on the production Dodge Coronet in order to improve the car's aerodynamics.  The 68 Chargers nose was recessed and caught tons of horsepower robbing air on superspeedways. The resulting car was referred to as the Dodge Charger 500.  Hylton Motorsports built a 69 Charger 500 for the upcoming season and also updated the 68 Dodge to Charger 500 standards.

The second generation Charger first raced under the Hylton Motorsports banner at the 1968 Dixie 500 at Atlanta.  Hylton finished sixth and led five laps during the 334 lap event.  During the Charger's two season career, they amassed 28 Top-Five finishes and 42 Top-Ten finishes in 55 races.  The last appearance of the Charger was the 1969 Georgia 500 at Macon, Ga, where Hylton raced to a sixth place finish.  Hylton went on to finish third in the 1969 NASCAR Grand National standings behind David Pearson and Richard Petty. One of the Chargers was converted to a Dodge Daytona during the 1969 season for Hylton's usage.  The remaining Charger was also later converted to a Daytona after the completion of the 1969 season.  Hylton would transition to Ford products for 1970, so both Daytona's were sold.

"Those Charger's were both great cars" states Hylton some forty years later.....