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Unplugged Performance's Tesla Model S Plaid, affectionately dubbed 'Dark Helmet', has been tearing up the tarmac and leaving its gas-guzzling competitors at the pump. Buckle up because the Dark Helmet is here—and it's coming for lap records. Unplugged Performance's Tesla Model S Plaid, known as 'Dark Helmet,' made history at Thunderhill Raceway Park, securing a dominant first-place finish in the Unlimited class at the 2024 Gridlife Pacific Championship. But that's just the beginning. With Craig Coker ( @fromwhereicharge ) behind the wheel, 'Dark Helmet' clocked a blistering 1:47.5 lap time—not only the fastest lap of the event but also a new Unlimited AWD Gridlife record. To top it off, this made 'Dark Helmet' the fastest EV and sedan to lap Thunderhill.
Unplugged Performance has always had one goal: to be the fastest. And that means going toe-to-toe with some of the most extreme race cars on the planet, no matter their budget, size, or power source. The wildest part? 'Dark Helmet' is still a Tesla Model S at its core, with a stock factory powertrain. Of course, it's got some serious upgrades—massive UP aero, a gutted interior, and slick, sticky Yokohama tires—but at the end of the day, it's rocking off-the-shelf UP parts that any Tesla owner can buy.
"We came and we conquered the 2024 @gridlifeofficial Pacific Championship behind the awesome efforts of the UP Team and fearless driving by @fromwhereicharge." Despite this being both Craig's and 'Dark Helmet's first time attacking Thunderhill, they proved that EVs aren't just here to participate—they're here to dominate. And this is just the beginning.
While 'Dark Helmet' has already rewritten the record books, the Unplugged Performance team isn't done yet. They're returning to shave even more time off their laps and push Tesla's Performance further. Congratulations to Gridlife ( @gridlifeofficial ) for fostering an incredible motorsports community and to Yokohama Tire for providing the grip that helped make this record-breaking weekend possible.
Tesla fans, performance junkies, and racing enthusiasts—stay tuned. Unplugged Performance is far from finished, and 2025 is going to be even wilder.
See you on the track, Ted 🏎️ 🏁
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At Thunderhill, we’ve been delivering a superior motorsports experience for over 30 years. Our track remains one of the finest, safest, and cleanest road courses in America. Beyond the track, our team continues to set the standard for world-class customer service, exceeding expectations at every turn.
