Salt Charger

Bonneville Records By Way Of NASCAR.

- Brandan Gillogly 

​Lee Sicilio’s Charger Daytona is a Bonneville staple. Each year since 2001, salt willing, Lee has taken one of his two Charger Daytona race cars to Speed Week. To date, this naturally aspirated car, No. 1001, has set 11 records, two of which are still standing 

Lee’s love of land-speed racing was born while reading HOT ROD in the 1960's. Growing up in Texas, Bonneville was a bit too far to venture, so Lee drag raced instead. At a friend’s urging, Lee visited Bonneville during Speed Week in 1997 to see what it was like up close. With a clipboard and pencil in hand, Lee prowled the pits taking notes. He came back the following year and did the same. In 1998 he began building the 1001 car, starting from the General Lee clone he owned. He scrounged up a reproduction window plug, nose cone, and wing, and in 1999, showed up to Speed Week looking like Joe Dirt, the car in orange and primer. Bobby Isaac made history when he ran the K&K Insurance Daytona in 1971, but wing cars hadn’t been seen on the salt in ages. Lee’s car was a hit. He made his licensing passes and headed home to Texas to finish the car.