Dodge has announced that the inaugural season of its Viper Cup Series will air on the VERSUS specialty cable network. The series kicks off  at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) on July 10-11, with that race airing on July 24th.

Each race weekend will feature two races, with the ten-race spec series moving to tracks like Pocono, Miller Motorsports Park and Spring Mountain.

Used exclusively in the Viper Cup Series is the new Viper ACR-X with a 640-hp 8.4-liter V10 engine, combined with a track-tuned suspension, a curb weight that has been cut by 160 lbs and several aerodynamic enhancements. A roll cage, fuel cell and race seats complete the package for racing in the SCCA and NASA Viper Racing League.

“The Dodge Viper ACR-X is designed and built specifically for the race track,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand. “Now with VERSUS on board, race fans will have the opportunity to see our untamed and unmatched road-racing machine along with some of our talented Viper owner/drivers compete on five of the best road courses in the county as part of the Dodge Viper Cup series.”

GALLERY: Dodge Viper ACR-X

Hit the jump for complete race dates and air times on Versus:

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In an effort to keep the Viper name alive after the iconic sports car is discontinued next year, Dodge has announced the introduction of the 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X track car, while simultaneously launching a new Dodge Viper Cup spec series.

The Viper ACR-X is a combination of the ACR street-legal but track capable machine, with the track-only Competition Coupe to come up with the ideal club racer. Unfortunately, it’s not street legal.

Under the long hood, the ACR-X retains the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 engine, but power gets a 40-hp boost to 640-hp thanks to a less restrictive exhaust setup. Additional modifications incldue a track-tuned suspension, a curb weight that has been cut by 160 lbs and several aerodynamic enhancements. A roll cage, fuel cell and race seats complete the package for racing in the SCCA and NASA Viper Racing League. Pricing is set at $110,000.

Recently Dodge made headlines when it introduced an updated ACR model for 2010, which reclaimed the Laguna Seca track record at 1:33.915. The ACR-X was also out testing at Laguna Seca recently and bested the street car’s time by almost three seconds.

The car will be the spec model in the new Dodge Viper Spec series that will begin in July 9th at Virginia International Raceway.

For more on the ACR-X, the Dodge Viper Spec series and a video of the making of the ACR-X, see after the jump:

GALLERY: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X

Official release after the jump:

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