“World’s Quickest” Jeep Cherokee Takes A Digger At The Drag Strip

Traditionally, the original Cherokee has been modded for off-roading, whether it be a mild or extreme makeover. Big wheels, a lift kit, and a beefier transmission are some of more common modifications classic Cherokee owners make to their off-road machines…but have you ever seen a Cherokee run 8s at the drag strip?

Neither had we until video of the “World’s Quickest” Jeep Cherokee emerged earlier this year. Unfortunately, those videos also happened to include a rather nasty roll that left one side of the Cherokee with a serious case of road rash. But worry not, this big-block dragster will be back.

Raced by seasoned drag racer Martin Blair, this classic ‘86 Jeep Cherokee is a totally unique monster, packing a 505 cubic-inch Chrysler “megablock” V8 fed by a two-stage nitrous setup. Rumored to be good for as much as 1,100 horsepower and riding on a totally custom chassis, Blair has taken the Cherokee as fast as the 8.30s in the quarter-mile at speeds of over 158 MPH. This ain’t your daddy’s Jeep.

Unfortunately for Blair, a case of too-much-speed combined with a top-heavy SUV resulted in a nasty semi-roll that left the Cherokee skidding down Cecil County Dragway on its side earlier this month. The run went wrong right from the get go, and a harsh over-correction by Blair revealed why most drag racers tend to avoid SUVs, besides the obvious aerodynamic disadvantage of driving a four-wheeled brick.

Thankfully, Blair was just fine, and the world’s quickest Cherokee isn’t likely to be out of action for long. What started as a $250 side project has evolved into a symbol of the do-anything Jeep crowd, and we don’t expect little setback like this to keep Blair and his badass Cherokee down for the count.