Over the course of the past year, our Sisterhood of Muscle series has showcased some of the quickest racing women in the modern Dodge community, but today, we look at how a quartet of female racers that met and came to be great friends through the Modern Street HEMI® Shootout. Their group name is Girl Chat Racing, and while that name isn’t the most intimidating, their collective lineup of Dodge race vehicles coupled with their racing success provide all of the intimidation needed.
Girl Chat Racing is comprised of four members – Jen Wagner, Jessica Sipple, Melanie Fisher and Kate Toutkoushian. Jen Wagner drives a 2021 Dodge Durango SRT® Hellcat, Melanie Fisher drives a 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Kate Toutkoushian drives a ProCharged 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Jessica Sipple drives a 2009 Dodge Challenger powered by an SRT Hellcat HEMI engine. They live in different areas along the East Coast, but they all talk daily online and attend a handful of racing events together. Even if one of the group members can’t compete at an event, it is not unusual for them to all come out to an event to support the members of their group who are racing.
How Girl Chat Racing Formed
I asked the four members of Girl Chat Racing how the group formed and they explained that they met casually through the Modern Street HEMI Shootout over the past few years, but the Girl Chat Racing group really solidified in 2022. While they all shared the same basic input, Toutkoushian had the most colorful explanation of how they came to be close friends.
“Mel and I had become good friends through Gary and Chris (their respective significant others),” said Toutkoushian. “One night, we were all hanging out with the Sipples at Rockingham Dragway. I had never actually been on the track to see the distance between the top bulbs and how much roll out there actually was. Gary took me out there and showed me as a great pit bitch would. But we also took some really cute on-track photos during the night. When we came back, Mel and Jess were really excited and wanted photos too. I honestly believe this was a pivotal moment in girl chat. Even though we connected and bonded before then, it was really the first thing we did together. After posting those photos, Jen really wanted to take photos too.
“We all hung out, took lots of photos, and the rest is history. Since then, we have talked every single day. It doesn’t have to just be about racing. Girl Chat truly is four girls who found each other at the right time.”
Fisher pointed out that while their friendship is rooted in racing, it is more than just chatting about Dodge performance.
“The four of us talk every single day in our group chat. We are best friends in all aspects of life, not just on race day. We support each other in the good times and the hard times. Kate and Jen live in Maryland, Jess lives in North Carolina and I live in Florida.”
As for the name “Girl Chat Racing”, that name was coined partially by their significant others, as when they see any of the four women looking at their phone and laughing, they ask “What is the Girl Chat talking about today?” In 2022, they made the name official and Girl Chat Racing was formed.
As mentioned above, the members of Girl Chat Racing met through the Modern Street HEMI Shootout, so they all try to make as many of those events as possible, even if only to support each other. However, that is not the only series on which Girl Chat Racing has set their sights. Members of the HEMI engine-powered racing team have also competed in Street Car Takeover and National Muscle Car Association events, along with various other events at Rockingham Dragway. For those who do not know, Rockingham Dragway is owned in part by Dan VanHorn, who runs the Modern Street HEMI Shootout series, so the venue has become a hot spot for the modern Mopar® racing community.
Now, for a Look at the HEMI Engine-Powered Machines of Girl Chat Racing
Jen Wagner drives and races a 2021 Dodge SRT Hellcat Durango. When she bought this supercharged SUV, her goal was to have a race vehicle that could also transport her family to the beach. It has been upgraded with an SDG Motorsports X-Treme billet bearing plate and billet “Hellephant Killer” snout, a Nick Williams 108mm throttle body, a Dusterhoff upper pulley, an ATI 10% lower pulley, a Legmaker carbon fiber cold air intake, Gforce axles, Per4mance Development front and rear differential brace, and a tune from Curt Dusterhoff. Her best quarter-mile run to date is an 11.02 at 125mph, but so far, she has only run with her “street tune” – so there is plenty of power left to be used later this season. Wagner thanks East Coast Moparts, Legmaker Intakes, Dusterhoff Tuning and Brazzel Performance and Fabrications for playing a “vital role in the success of my Durango and racing career.”
Wagner’s biggest win came at the Modern Street HEMI Shootout event at Virginia Motorsports Park last year, where she won the Legmaker Intakes Super Stock 11.50 class, followed by a final-round appearance in the finals of the King of the Hill class. She was a semifinalist at the Bradenton Women and Wheels event, and earlier this year, she finished 3rd in the 11.50 class at the MSHS Rockingham event.
As for her racing goals for the future, this is what she had to say:
“I really have been focusing on improving myself as a racer and participating in different racing series. Last year, I started racing in Street Car Takeovers and with Women and Wheels. When I started racing in 2015, it was something I wanted to try for fun and I looked at it as I’m just a girl in a series full of amazing racers! I never thought I would actually become a competitive drag racer and become so addicted to it! Once you get bit by the racing bug, it’s hard to let go especially when you start winning! Modern Street HEMI Shootout gave me the platform to grips into a real drag racer but also meet the most amazing people … especially my Girl Chat Racing team!
“Girl Chat Racing was created by the love of all things HEMI and Modern Street HEMI Shootout! I am thankful for all the amazing friendships I have because of this thing we call drag racing!”
Kate Toutkoushian drives and races a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in the unique Furious Fuchsia, powered by a built 6.1-liter HEMI engine, fitted with a ProCharger D1 and tuned to run on race gas by High Horse Performance. Power is sent to the rear wheels by means of a Sipple Speed and Performance NAG1 transmission with a two-step system and a transbrake. Her best quarter-mile pass with this setup is a 10.77 at 126mph, but she is currently in the process of learning the new build, so she is bound to get quicker with more seat time and better air later this year. Toutkoushian thanks High Horse Performance for building and tuning the car, Starcks Performance for last-minute race prep ahead of this season (which included installing a new transmission) and Sipple Speed and Performance for proving that transmission on short notice.
For Kate Toutkoushian, racing is all about the little victories and the friends made along the way.
“I think the most exciting results are the little wins with yourself. I’ve been bracket racing for 9 years now and there are still tricks I am learning. But when I get them, it’s exciting.
“My goal for this year is to have fun with no pressure. The car is a little different this year so I’m relearning some things. But now is a good time to relearn with the car as I am tired of always being the bridesmaid and loosing by 2 points. The goal is to come back stronger.
“Late nights, win lights, fireball shots, Girl Chat for life!”
Melanie Fisher drives the Legmaker 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat that she calls “Mellcat 2.0”. The car is fitted with a Legmaker carbon fiber cold air intake along with an engine and transmission tune from Brian McMahan of Diablosport. Diablosport offers a preset tune for an SRT Hellcat HEMI engine with a Legmaker cold air intake and this was the car used to develop that tune. Those simple modifications have allowed Fisher to run a best quarter-mile time of 10.90 at 126mph, and she points out that thanks to McMahon’s tune, Mellcat 2.0 is a perfectly consistent racecar. This car is daily driven and driven back and forth to the track, swapping from the street tires to her skinnies and drag radials at the track, before swapping back for the drive home.
Fisher does not have any big event wins yet, but she has key personal victories in her racing career and with the help in her corner, we can expect to see her on the podium in the near future.
“I do not have any big wins with the car yet. But it was so exciting for me to take a car that Chris (Harrigan of Legmaker Intakes) said would never see the track, and be the first person to make a hit in the car and take it to a 10.90 in its first pass ever. Also going rounds in the 11.0 index at SCT this year in my first race in a new car was a win for me as a driver.
“I am very fortunate in the fact that my daily job at Legmaker Intakes allows me to not only hand-make real carbon fiber intakes for the Gen3 HEMI community that I love so much, but it also allows me to put our product to the test at the track! I have to say how thankful I am for Chris! When I made the decision to trade my Hellcat in on a Grand Wagoneer for our large blended family, he knew how much racing meant to me and without hesitation said ‘let’s put the Welds on my Hellcat for you!’”
“My racing goals for this season are to focus on my reaction times and bracket racing. Kate’s boyfriend, Gary, of DragCoach.com, has taken me under his wing and I am really looking forward to learning from him as well as Chris, and growing as a driver!
“Whoever said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, never had a supercharged HEMI!”
Finally, Jessica Sipple competes in a 2009 Dodge Challenger that she calls “Tigger” due to the orange-and-black livery and the way that it stands on end when it leaves the starting line. She also has a Jeep® Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and a Dodge Charger Super Bee that is built for racing, but Tigger is her primary racing macine. It is powered by a Gibbons Motorsports-built BGE HEMI engine bored to 4.100 and fitted with the best internal components on the market, including a Demon crankshaft, forged H-beam connecting rods, custom CP pistons, a Cam Motion camshaft, ARP fasteners, Johnson short travel lifters, AAD lifter trays, Manton push rods, Stanke tie bars and collars, 3V Performance ported Redeye cylinder heads, 1 7/8 headers, an IC Chiller intercooler chiller system, a Fore triple pump fuel system and a 2.4-liter Hellcat supercharger
The engine is tuned to run on Ignite E90 ethanol blend by Tim Barth of Barth Tuning.
Power is sent to the rear wheels by means of a Sipple Speed and Performance Max Effort NAG1 transmission with a billet input shaft and a pro lock Suncoast billet stator converter, along with a ZF cradle conversion with full AAD rear suspension drag pack, 3.90 LSD gears with Per4mance Development diff braces and factory 2018 SRT Demon axles. Key safety items include a Gearhead Fabrications parachute mount, a Stroud custom parachute, DJ Safety Equipment engine diaper and transmission blanket and a Steff Co NHRA-certified 8.50 cage. Her top sponsor and supporter is her husband, Jon, who is the man in charge at Sipple Speed and Performance. With Jon driving her Challenger, it has turned a best quarter-mile of 9.38 at 146mph while her best time so far, with traction issues, is a 10.06 at 146.
Jessica Sipple’s list of big wins is extensive, as she had a great 2022 season.
“In 2020, the MSHS went to Houston, Texas, for a race. I ended up winning the Bracket class there. I then went into King of the Hill and made it to the final and had to run Michael England. Unfortunately, I did not win King of the Hill, but I also had a closest to the pin award with a perfect pin there. I had 11.38 dialed in and went 11.380 in competition. I was unsuccessful at King of the Hill in Houston, but I told Jon that day, the next time I go to King of the Hill, I am going to win it!! It took me a couple years, but I did it.
“In 2021, at MIR in October, I was #1 qualifier for the 10.50 class with a 10.50 with an 000. That was the first time the car went right on 10.50.
“2022 was a great year as I placed just about every race. Then I went on to win 10.50 and King of the Hill.
“January 2023, we went to the Legion of Demons race in Houston, Texas. Saturday, they held qualifying for the Bracket class. They were going by reaction times for qualifying. My 2nd qualifier, I became #1 qualifier as I cut an .079 on a.400 pro tree foot braking. We raced on Sunday and I made it to the semi finals as the guy I raced was a bit closer to his dial than I was.
“My key goals this year are to get the new build ironed out. The car is way faster and rowdier. I am planning on running 9.50 class with the MSHS. The ultimate goal will be to see if we can get the car to run 8.90s blower only. If not, maybe next year I may spray the car and run in 8.50. We are undecided at the time, so we will just see how this year goes.
“Main goal this race season is to go out, have fun, go really fast and spend time with my race family and race girls, Girl Chat Racing!!! I would absolutely love to help any new racers that I come upon this season. I love to see other people do well, so I enjoy helping!
“If it wasn’t for our love of Dodge, we would have never met. Thank god I met the best ladies a girl could ask for!”
While their passion for going fast in Dodge products brought them together, the friendship that has grown from their racing hobby truly personifies the Sisterhood of Muscle.