In the “Ampersand” section of the October 2009 issue of Road & Track magazine, the opening headline reads what we’ve all come to learn about the fate of the 2010 Camaro’s top-line performer:

“THE Z28 IS DEAD
LONG LIVE THE HENNESSEY HPE550 CAMARO!“

Their capital-lettered exclamation may not completely soothe the purists hoping the General will eventually slap a Zed on the new Camaro, but it makes clear there is a top option out there for 2010 with its sights set squarely on upsetting the Shelby GT500 and claiming its place among the meanest modern muscle to prowl the street: The 2010 HPE550 Camaro.

You can read the entire article and view the photo gallery here.

The rest of the issue features a 3-way cross country comparison of the new 2010 Camaro SS, Mustang GT and Dodge Challenger R/T, covers the newest cars for 2010 and has a sharp fold out featurette on the Petit Le Mans.

So stop by your local newsstand and pick up this month’s R&T and check out the smoking 2-page spread of the HPE550 Camaro drifting across the pavement, as well as an additional sidebar about the 2010 Hennessey Z700 Corvette ZR1.