Dodge Manufacturer NASCAR news and rumors
Some OFFICIAL Dodge Sites:
Dodge Motorsports
Dodge
Mopar
Mopar Muscle Magazine
(not posting new unofficial sites anymore: too many have no updates, are old, driver bashing)
Past NASCAR news, rumors about Dodge
(note: some links will not work as sites have deleted stuff or moved them)
- Dodge re-ups with Penske and Ganassi: Dodge executives have taken team owners Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi out of the Toyota equation by signing new contracts with the two. That keeps Dodge with a four-team lineup, including Petty Enterprises and Gillett-Evernham. When Toyota first announced its NASCAR plans, there was considerable speculation that both Penske and Ganassi would eventually switch.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-18-2008)
- Dodge plans to phase in new engine: Dodge officials expect to have a new engine on the track sometime this summer. The new engine should improve water flow and the ability to make power reliably, said Howard Comstock, Dodge's Sprint Cup program manager. Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing build their own engines. Petty Enterprises uses Gillett Evernham motors. "We did the initial development in-house at Chrysler and made parts available to the teams," Comstock said. "Now they have got parts, and they can get their engines put together and run them for the first time on their dyno. We will get some additional feedback and make some engineering changes as we go along and make sure that everything is solid before the engine actually sees competition." With Chevrolet and Toyota having introduced new engines last year, Comstock said Dodge has looked at those engines and learned. Ford most likely is coming out with a new engine in 2009.(SceneDaily.com)(1-16-2008) Comment here
- Charger back in 2008? no Avenger UPDATE: been told the Dodge NASCAR car will be known as the Charger in 2008 NOT the Avenger. The COT body style will stay the same, just the headlight and taillight decals will changed along with the Charger name on the nose.(11-27-2007)
UPDATE: Dodge today confirmed that it will race the Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series in 2008 and beyond, continuing to add to its rich NASCAR tradition. Dodge, which has a storied heritage in auto racing with the Charger, has elected to continue the winning tradition that legends David Pearson, Bobby Isaac and Richard Petty established in the 1970s by designating the Charger as the nameplate Dodge teams will use in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next year. "Racing is the core of Dodge's DNA," said Michael Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing. "Dodge has a racing heritage that spans many different nameplates and models, and the Charger is the cornerstone of that heritage. When NASCAR originally announced the phase-in plan for the "car of tomorrow", it made sense for Dodge to race the Charger and Avenger. When the decision was made to race only one car next year, we talked with our partners, the more than 2,500 Dodge Dealers across the country, and they expressed overwhelming support for Dodge to continue its motorsports heritage with the Charger nameplate. NASCAR rules permit Dodge to use either nameplate in 2008. "Since 2001 when Dodge returned to NASCAR, the goal has been to win races and ultimately the championship. Those goals have been accomplished with the Charger previously and we are committed to make it happen again." The 2008 Dodge Charger lineup will feature five teams with 12 drivers that are a mixture of seasoned veterans, experienced young talent and champions from other racing series that are newcomers to NASCAR. The Dodge Charger has recorded 136 wins in NASCAR's premier series with 124 coming during an 11-year span, 1966-1977. Three drivers - Pearson, Isaac and Petty (3) -- combined for five championships during that period driving a Charger. After an absence of almost 30 years, Dodge returned to NASCAR competition in 2001 with the Charger returning to the track in 2005.(Dodge Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR)(11-28-2007)
- World Speed Record Set in Dodge Charger: Russ Wicks, who holds World Speed Records of more than 200 miles per hour on both land and water, has set a stock car world record of 244.9 miles per hour, which has been confirmed by Guinness World Records. Wick successfully achieved the record on Tuesday, October 9 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Northwestern Utah while driving a 2007 Dodge Charger built to NASCAR specifications. The new mark shatters Wicks´ previous stock car world speed record of 222 miles per hour. Wicks´ vehicle was developed with the backing of the Dodge Motorsports Engineering Group and Arrington Engines.(Dodge Motorsports PR)(10-14-2007)
- Dodge statement regarding Kahne's sponsor: Responding to the media advisory from Gillett Evernham Motorsports that a multi-year sponsorship agreement for Kasey Kahne and the #9 Dodge has been finalized and will be announced on Tuesday, Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing and Communications, issued the
following statement: “When Dodge made its return to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in 2001 with Ray Evernham and Evernham Motorsports, a key component of the program was the sponsorship of the 9 and 19 by our Dodge Dealers. That partnership with Evernham Motorsports has produced significant on-track results and has been a viable platform for our dealer group to showcase the Dodge DNA of power and performance. During the past seven years, the Dodge family has grown to multiple teams with multi-car operations. That’s created new opportunities and challenges for Dodge as we focus on the future and our goal of winning races and competing for the championship in NASCAR’s premier series. Additional sponsorship support of the No. 9 Dodge Avenger, driven by Kasey Kahne, in 2008 gives Dodge the opportunity to redirect valuable resources toward the challenges facing all our teams. We welcome the new partnership and look forward to working with Gillett Evernham Motorsports toward the goal we share with all teams in the Dodge family, the Nextel Cup. This does not change our commitment to be the manufacturing leader in NASCAR’s premier series, win races and consistently contend for the Nextel Cup. We now have the opportunity to apply additional resources to areas that can directly impact the on-track performance of all our teams and expand marketing opportunities for our dealers.”(Dodge/ClearBlue PR)(9-14-2007)
- Former Home Depot boss to Chrysler: Chrysler’s new chairman and CEO made his debut this morning at the automaker’s Auburn Hills headquarters. Chrysler’s Tom LaSorda, who had been CEO under DaimlerChrysler’s ownership, introduced Bob Nardelli, former head of Home Depot, at a morning press conference. Cerberus Capital Management took 80.1% ownership of Chrysler on Friday. In its first bold move, it has named Nardelli as CEO and chairman of Chrysler. LaSorda keeps his president title and become vice chairman. He reports to Nardelli.(Detorit Free Press)(8-6-2007)
- Dodge gives away new Avenger after first victory: Dodge made a promise to its drivers back in February that the first win in a
Dodge Avenger would be rewarded with a new 2008 Dodge Avenger passenger car for the driver to donate to their favorite charity. Juan Pablo Montoya collected on that promise today with the first Dodge Avenger victory at Infineon Raceway. Not only did he drive his Dodge Avenger to victory lane, he gets to drive away with one, too.(Clear!Blue PR), no word on what charity, but with his wife Connie, Juan Pablo Montoya has a charity foundation called "Formula Smiles". It is an organization dedicated to help children with no resources.(6-28-2007)
- 80% of Chrysler Sold UPDATE Dodge plans to stay in NASCAR: DaimlerChrysler AG announced this morning that it had picked private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management to take a majority ownership in the Auburn Hills [Michigan]-based Chrysler Group. Cerberus, a New York City fund with several ties to the auto industry, will pay $7.4 billion for an 80% stake in the maker of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brand vehicles. DaimlerChrysler AG plans to change its name to Daimler AG, focus on its Mercedes luxury brand, and retain about 20% of Chrysler, the company announced. DaimlerChrysler's announcement, made at 4:31 a.m., comes nine years after Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp. united at the cost of around $36 billion in what, at the time, was called a “marriage made in heaven.”(Detroit Free Press), no word on how or if this will affect Dodge's NASCAR program.(5-14-2007)
UPDATE: DaimlerChrysler's decision to sell majority ownership in Chrysler to the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is not expected to affect Dodge Motorsports' participation in the Nextel Cup series. In anticipation of the sell, Mike Accavitti, the director of Dodge Motorsports and Tom LaSorda, the chairman of DaimlerChrysler, visited with Dodge owners Ray Evernham, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske at Bristol to reassure them of the company's commitment. All the Dodge teams are locked up contractually through at least 2009. "We talked to everybody today,'' Accavitti said. "The message is pretty consistent. We don't intend on going anywhere.''(ESPN.com)(5-15-2007)
- Repeat: Dodge staying in NASCAR: While auto industry analysts and executives await the outcome of the sale of DaimlerChrysler, which could happen in the next month, Dodge officials insist they will remain in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series no matter what the outcome of the sale. “We believe in the marketing value of the sport and the awareness it provides for the Dodge brand. The NASCAR fan base is an excellent fit for Dodge and the vehicles we manufacturer. We have long term commitments to the sport and to our teams, and we will, without question, keep these commitments. As we’ve said many times, Dodge is in NASCAR to stay,” said Mike Accavitti, director, Dodge Motorsports and SRT Marketing.(SpeedTV.com)(4-28-2007)
- Chevy Dominating in 2007; Dodge wants Aero Help: Seven of the top 10 [in points] are Chevys. The [Phoenix race] lineup reflects the first seven races in which Chevys have won six times, taken 27 of a possible 35 top-5 positions and led an amazing 81 percent of the laps. That number is even more lopsided over the past five races in which Chevys have led an astounding 91.4 percent of the laps. It's so out of whack that representatives from other manufacturers have called Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's director of competition, to see what can be done to level the playing field. Pemberton isn't concerned. While he admits NASCAR is working with Dodge to alleviate an aerodynamic problem in traffic, he said the chassis dyno and wind tunnel numbers don't suggest Chevy have a competitive advantage over Ford, Dodge or Toyota. He said NASCAR isn't looking to make rule changes to help the other manufacturers, saying the Chevy advantage is in the sheer number of cars. Twenty-one of the 50 cars that attempted to qualify for Saturday's race at Phoenix were Chevys, compared to 13 Dodges, nine Fords and seven Toyotas.(ESPN.com)(4-21-2007)
- Dodge teams could be left scrambling: Dodge's future in NASCAR could be on the line, with DaimlerChrysler's proposed sale of its American division moving rapidly along and expected to be completed by the end of the month. What worries Dodge teams is the threat that whoever buys Chrysler may decide to liquidate its assets. (According to one report, General Motors may buy Chrysler's Jeep operations.) If that were to happen, and if Dodge's NASCAR teams are unable to continue, that could leave 11 stock-car teams and their five owners [Evernham, Petty, Ganassi, Penske, BAM] scrambling.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-16-2007)
- Chrysler buyer? China? Canada? DaimlerChrysler [Dodge] hasn't sold its U.S. Chrysler division yet, but indications are two more major offers could be put on the table in the next few days. And the big story is intense speculation in Detroit that China will be involved in one of the offers for Chrysler, in order to get a base for selling some of its cars in the U.S., as well as to use Chrysler expertise to expand its own internal car market. China has become the world's second-largest automobile market in the world, behind the United States. Magna, the big Canadian auto-parts firm, has already made a bid, of nearly $5 billion, for Chrysler. If Magna wins, look for Mark Hogan, a former General Motors' exec, to take the helm.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-31-2007)
- Dodge Avenger to Debut at Bristol: The Dodge Avenger, which joins the Dodge Charger in Nextel Cup competition this season, makes its racing debut Sunday in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway – the first NASCAR Car of Tomorrow (COT) race.
Preparing for NASCAR’s 16 COT races in 2007 has kept the candle burning at both ends for most Nextel Cup teams since the end of last season. The Avenger, Dodge’s racing version of the COT, has been tested at tracks throughout the country getting ready for the ultimate test in Thunder Valley, Tennessee this coming weekend. The all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger, the street-legal version of this great new race
car, is a mid-size sedan combining bold, aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features, high-levels of safety and reliability,
exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30mpg on the highway. Production of the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger began at the Sterling Heights (Michigan) Assembly Plant in February and will start to arrive in dealer showrooms next month. “Dodge is ready for the challenge at Bristol, and we think the Dodge Avenger is the car to beat,” said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Motorsports and SRT
Marketing, Chrysler Group. “We believe that the Avenger can bring Dodge a championship in the future, and we can’t wait to start that campaign this weekend. And, for the first Dodge driver to win a COT race, we will donate an all-new Dodge Avenger to the charity of his choice,” Accavitti added.(Clear!Blue/Dodge Motorsports PR)(3-21-2007)
- GM to buy Chrysler? General Motors Corp. is in talks to buy the Chrysler Group in its entirety, Automotive News reported Friday, citing unnamed sources in Germany and the United States. The automotive trade publication reported on its Web site that high-level talks were talking place between GM and Chrysler Group parent DaimlerChrysler AG. The potential deal between the two automakers could go beyond cooperation on joint development of a large sport utility vehicle, the magazine said. A General Motors Corp. spokesman said the company routinely has discussions with other automakers but declined to comment on the Automotive News report. "We often have discussions with automakers routinely. We don't comment on speculation regarding discussions," GM spokesman Tony Cervone said. Meanwhile, various newspapers reported earlier Friday that Chrysler and GM have held discussions for about six months about a possible alliance related to large sport utility vehicles.(MSNBC)(2-16-2007)
- Dodge staying in NASCAR..Ford?: So said Dodge racing boss Mike Accavitti in opening remarks at the Evernham Motorsports NASCAR media stop Thursday, the final day of the tour. Accavitti, director of Dodge Motorsports Operations and SRT Planning, said Dodge wouldn't back out of Nextel Cup racing, as some have suggested Dodge and Ford might. "Dodge is here to stay," Accavitti said. "I'm very proud our message is sinking in. Dodge buyers value the fact that we race." Accavitti said Dodge's goal this year is to improve upon last season's Cup performance, in which its teams won seven times and claimed 16 poles -- the manufacturer's best year since rejoining NASCAR's premier series in 2001. Achieving more consistent finishes is a priority, Accavitti said. Accavitti will try to entice Dodge drivers, including Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman, at Daytona next month. Should one win the Daytona 500, the driver will get to choose an SRT vehicle, including the V-10 Viper.(Detroit Free Press)(1-26-2007)
- Dodge and Chevy to change models in 2007? UPDATE Yes Beginning in 2007, Dodge and Chevrolet will campaign new models in Nextel Cup competition, Yahoo! Sports has learned. Dodge will run the Avenger, while Chevrolet will run the Impala SS, according to sources with some of NASCAR's manufacturers. The change also was indicated in a technical bulletin distributed to all teams last week. Both Dodge and Chevy soon will announce that they have been given approval by NASCAR to change to the new models, with Chevy's announcement possibly coming as soon as this week. According to the sources, the stock car version has been approved for use by Dodge teams for both the current Nextel Cup car as well as the Car of Tomorrow version, starting next season. The switch from Monte Carlo to Impala could signal the end of the Monte Carlo name from the Chevrolet lineup, as its rear-drive design [NOTE: the Monte Carlo is front wheel driven - verified at the chevrolet.com site] is used on its model alone and at the present time, no replacement is on the drawing boards at GM. However, unlike its Dodge counterpart, the Impala SS will only be used by Chevrolet teams for their Car of Tomorrow, according to sources. Manufacturers and NASCAR also are continuing to move forward with plans to change all of the models used in the Busch Series, perhaps as soon as the 2010 season. That change would put smaller, sportier models into competition, like the retro-designed Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger – as well as the Toyota Solara.(Yahoo Sports)(10-24-2006)
NOTE: Chevy already announced it would use the Impala for the COT races and overall when the COT runs all the races [2009].
UPDATE: Chrysler Group announced today that the Dodge Avenger will race at select events in Nextel Cup competition beginning in 2007, joining the Dodge Charger in the Dodge NASCAR racing lineup. The Dodge Avenger race car debuted along side the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger at the North American International Auto Show [Detroit. The Dodge Avenger is a mid-size sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features, high-levels of safety and reliability, exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) (32 mpg based on 2007 EPA fuel economy standards). Dodge drivers #19-Elliott Sadler, of the Dodge Dealers/UAW Evernham Motorsports team, #2-Kurt Busch, of Penske Racing South, and, new to NASCAR, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team participated in the announcement. "With NASCAR Nextel Cup racing two distinct cars for 2007, it makes perfect sense to have the Avenger join the Charger in the Dodge racing family," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Motorsports and SRT Product Planning, Chrysler Group. "Dodge is all about delivering bold, capable performance, and that will become even more evident when the Avenger hits NASCAR's race tracks this year." The Dodge Avenger race car is scheduled to make its competition debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25, 2007, as the Dodge entry in NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" implementation. During the multi-year phase-in of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, the Dodge Charger will continue to race in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition.(clearblue.biz PR)(1-9-2007)
- Dodge's 2007 Plans: With Chevrolet celebrating its 26th manufacturer's championship in the past 35 years, Dodge Motorsports decided to make dramatic changes for 2007. The Dodge Charger will come back with a new front nose that's supposed to give it more downforce in traffic. The car company also will move to the Dodge Avenger for all of the Car of Tomorrow races. The new car will be phased into the sport starting next year. It's taller and wider to enhance competition and safety. Chevrolet decided to use the Monte Carlo at non-Car of Tomorrow races and the Impala at the rest, and Dodge will make a similar switch.(Augusta Chronicle)(11-18-2006)
- Dodge Mum on Model Change UPDATE: And Dodge's Mike Accavitti, the new racing boss, continues to say no-comment on reports his company will follow GM's lead and badge its own car of tomorrow under the new Avenger logo.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-28-2006)
UPDATE: Mike Accavitti, Dodge's head of racing, declined to confirm his company's plans to follow GM and use NASCAR to market its revived Avenger. Accavitti said that the Avenger is still just "a concept car debuted in Paris," despite a NASCAR tech bulletin listing the Avenger as 2007-ready for Cup racing.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-29-2006)
- Dodge from Charger to Challenger in 2007? UPDATE no: The Dodge Charger has been a disappointment on the track, although that is probably more a reflection of problems within the various Dodge teams and the company's racing hierarchy than any significant technical issues. Several teams balked at running the Charger earlier this year, preferring to run the older Intrepid, even though Dodge wasn't selling that brand any more. Now it appears likely that in 2007 Dodge's NASCAR teams could be marketed under the Challenger logo, rather than the Charger brand. NASCAR has approved a new Dodge nose for next season. But the Challenger isn't expected in dealer showrooms until 2008, so Dodge would have to speed up its introduction.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-3-2006)
UPDATE - No: The new Dodge nose recently approved by NASCAR for 2007 will be based on the current production model Charger and not the new Challenger being introduced in 2008, according to NASCAR officials. Dodge team owners sought the change for the nose after they felt that was the area of the Charger that was causing the models to be less competitive than Chevrolet or Ford.(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(9-4-2006)
- Dodge nose approved for 2007: Dodge teams will get the new nose they wanted in 2007. They'll only be able to use the new nose in the 20 races that don't incorporate the "car of tomorrow." but it will be a welcome change to the struggles with the Dodge Charger. No Dodge team is in the top 10 in points.(SceneDaily.com)(8-28-2008)
- Dodge names new Senior Mgr: Dodge introduced Mike Delahanty Sunday [8/20] as its new Senior Manager of Motorsports Programs, partially filling the holes left by the retirements of John Fernandez and Bob Wildberger. Fernandez, the former director of motorsports, has joined Chip Ganassi Racing, while Wildberger, the former program manager, is still exploring his next move. Delahanty and Dodge director of SRT and Motorsports Marketing Mike Accavitti will spearhead the manufacturer's racing program. Delahanty doesn't directly replace Fernandez, as Delahanty will also oversee marketing efforts in addition to his racing-related duties. Delahanty served as the company's senior manager for competitive analysis for five years, studying Dodge rival's vehicles. That knowledge, Accavitti said, could help Dodge catch up to NASCAR rival Chevrolet, which has won 14 times to Dodge's five in 2006.(SceneDaily.com)(8-21-2006)
- Dodge working on Montoya's release: Dodge Director of SRT and Motorsports Marketing Mike Accavitti said today that the manufacturer is still trying to free up Juan Pablo Montoya from his contract with the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team so Montoya can begin driving stock cars. The F1 season ends October 22, and even though McLaren replaced Montoya soon after he announced he would join Chip Ganassi Racing in 2007, Montoya, who will replace Casey Mears in the #42 car, is still prohibited to drive stock cars.(SceneDaily.com)(8-21-2006)
- Dodge Commits to NASCAR: Dodge Motorsports has lost two of its top executives in the past month, but the automobile manufacturer still intends to be a big player in NASCAR. "Our commitment to NASCAR remains very strong," Dodge official Mike Accavitti said before Sunday's race. "The only thing that's changed is some people have retired, but that happens when you've been with a company for a while." Speculation about Dodge's future in the stock car series increased when Dodge Motorsports chief John Fernandez announced Friday he was leaving DaimlerChrysler to take over as managing director of Chip Ganassi's team based in Concord, N.C. Accavitti said Dodge has picked a replacement and hopes to make that announcement soon. "We've identified a candidate for John's job and that's going through the internal approval process now," he said. Bob Wildberger, another top executive, also is retiring, and Accavitti said a search for his replacement has begun.(USA Today)(8-7-2006)
- Toyota close to approval: John Darby, Nextel Cup series director, says officials are in the final stage of approving the Toyota Camry for next season. Also, Dodge submitted a car for next season with a new hood and rear. Darby said the car is scheduled to be taken to a wind tunnel Tuesday.(Roanoke Times)(7-17-2006)
- Dodge's Response to the signing of Montoya: Mike Accavitti, Director of Dodge SRT and Motorsports Marketing, comments on Juan Pablo Montoya joining Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in 2007. "We're thrilled to have Juan Pablo Montoya join the Dodge Motorsports family and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. We've had the honor of having him drive for our McLaren Mercedes program in F1 and to now add him to our roster in NASCAR really demonstrates how we integrate our motorsports programs around the world. He is a tremendously talented driver who has succeeded in every series in which he has competed, and we're confident that he will quickly adapt to a Dodge Charger and oval track racing. We're also excited about the loyal following of F1 fans he will bring to NASCAR and Dodge. He is a popular driver around the world, and this brings excellent visibility for the Dodge brand in number of countries. Hats off to Chip Ganassi for a great addition to his team. We look forward to seeing Juan Pablo in victory lane."(Clear!Blue PR)(7-10-2006)
- New Dodge Car in 2007? Challenger? during the Nextel Cup race at Chicago, TNT's Bill Weber mentioned that Dodge would be submitting a new Dodge car to NASCAR next week to be run in 2007. Last week the new Dodge Challenger was unveiled at Daytona and Dodge said it could be run in NASCAR in the future.(7-9-2006)
- Dodge partners its F-1, NASCAR teams: DaimlerChrysler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche attended Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Daytona, where his likeness appeared on the hoods of the [#9 and #19 Ask Dr Z] Dodges driven by Evernham Motorsports' Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield. Then Zetsche flew to Indianapolis to be with McLaren-Mercedes for what turned out to be a short day for the team in Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix. At a news conference Sunday morning at the convention center, where he was joined by McLaren team principal Ron Dennis and NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham, among others, Zetsche said a joint NASCAR/F-1 program isn't as farfetched as it might seem. "The technology is very different, but the principles are the same," he said. "There is much to share. NASCAR has something to tell as far as the show is concerned. I saw Daytona and it's quite something." Zetsche said DaimlerChrysler is committed long term to both programs. "It's our history and will be our future as well," he said. "NASCAR is as American as it can get. We are there to stay." Dennis and Evernham agreed they are in the initial stages of developing their partnership, but both expect it to be fruitful. "It takes time because they're two very different types of motor sports," Dennis said. "It's a learning curve for both of us. But we are blown away by their marketing machine." Evernham acknowledged he has thought about one day being part of a U.S. team effort in F-1 but not until his NASCAR program has produced a championship or two. He is counting on the union with McLaren and Mercedes to help him do that. "It's not just the technology. Take what they're doing with their strategy and their software," he said. "It's great to have a big brother like McLaren. This is what we've been waiting for."(Indianapolis Star)(7-2-2006)
- Dodge Not Leaving NASCAR:
The chairman of DaimlerChrysler denied a widespread rumor that Dodge is pulling out of NASCAR, and pledged his commitment to America's top racing series. Dr. Dieter Zetsche [the Dr Z. that was featured on the #9 and #19 Dodges at Daytona], attending his first race of the season Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, said NASCAR is a successful platform for DaimlerChrysler and he has no plans to pull Dodge out. "I don't know who is creating those rumors, we have no reason whatsoever (to leave)," he said before the start of the Pepsi 400. "We are very happy with NASCAR, it is a great platform, and Dodge is the right brand to race NASCAR." Dodge has been unable to shake a season-long rumor that it was leaving the sport after five years. Many speculated that poor auto sales -- DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group said last month that sales were down nearly 11 percent -- would drive the manufacturer out. But the German-based Zetsche said he's still seeing a return on investment. "It's certainly not, 'Win race Sunday and sell Monday,' but it is brand-building," he said, "and part of the excitement which we have created around Dodge the last five years is certainly due to NASCAR racing." Earlier Saturday, Chrysler announced that the Dodge Challenger, a prominent member of its stable of high-performance "pony cars" of the early 1970s, is coming back in 2008. The new Challenger will feature the long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style shared by the first generation of Challengers, which were produced from 1970-74. About 188,600 Challengers were sold during that time. Zetsche didn't rule out using the Challenger in NASCAR. "For the time being it is definitely the Charger," he said. "When the Challenger comes into production we will reconsider it, but there is no decision to be made right now."(ESPN.com/AP)(7-3-2006)
- Dodge's Fernandez to Ganassi? UPDATE: Hearing that Dodge Motorsports Director, John Fernandez, will assume the General Managers position at Chip Ganassi Racing on July 1st. Fernandez would replace Andy Graves, who stepped down a few months ago.(6-19-2006)
UPDATE: Dodge’s motorsports czar, John Fernandez, rumored to be headed to Chip Ganassi’s team to replace deposed team manager Andy Graves, is apparently still with Dodge — for the moment, anyway. A Dodge representative said Fernandez was still at his office in Michigan, while Ganassi’s people declined comment on whether Fernandez was going to work for the team.(Speed Channel)(6-24-2006)
- More on the possible Busch Series car change: The Busch Series eventually will have a new car, but not before NASCAR debuts the Nextel Cup "car of tomorrow." The car of tomorrow debuts next season with a 16-race schedule. Full implementation at all track is scheduled for 2009. Any plans for the Busch Series to have a new car won't be decided on until NASCAR evaluates the Cup car.
"The main thing is that we take things we've learned from this car of tomorrow project, safety and things like that, and continue to integrate that into the other series," NASCAR Vice President for Pemberton%22">Competition Robin Pemberton said April 20. "But as far as a total tearup of chassis and bodies, we haven't come to a timeline on any of that." There has been talk about the Busch Series using totally different cars, such as Mustangs. "It's in the talking stages right now," Pemberton said April 21. "A couple of the manufacturers have come to us and expressed a desire to look at running maybe different makes in the Busch Series versus the Cup series. I think that's a pretty good idea and we're looking at it."(SceneDaily.com)(4-24-2006)
- Dodge Comments on rumor: COMMENT ON WEB SITE REPORT THAT ONE OF THE BIG THREE MANUFACTURERS IS GOING TO LEAVE NASCAR
John Fernandez, Director of Dodge Motorsports Operations: "I've heard the rumor, but obviously we're not involved in it. I haven't heard anything from General Motors or Ford that indicates they're in any jeopardy. Obviously their total companies right now are having a tough time in the marketplace, but that's happened before and it'll happen again I'm sure. As far as I know, GM and Ford are still committed to NASCAR and committed to racing in the Cup Series. As far as I know right now it's only a rumor."(Clear!Blue/Dodge PR)(4-22-2006)
- One of the Manufacturers pulling out of NASCAR? UPDATE 2 comments from all: an autoextremeist.com column is reporting that: It has come to our attention that serious discussions are taking place for the first time in the conference rooms of one domestic manufacturer in particular on a subject heretofore unthinkable in Detroit. The subject? Pulling out of NASCAR. Yes, it has been mentioned before, and I have predicted it for months now - ever since the announcement was made that Toyota would be buying its way into the France family circus - but we have confirmation that not only are the discussions taking place, they're so far down the road that a timetable for a pullout has been created, taking into account the end dates of existing contracts with individual racing teams currently aligned with this particular manufacturer. This Detroit manufacturer has decided that if it competes in motorsports in the future, it will only compete in three basic areas: 1. In production-based racing series that by rule and specification retain more than a passing resemblance to the cars they sell and the competitors they compete against in showrooms. 2. "Technical" efforts, in other words, engine programs for open-wheel and prototype racing series, but stopping short of Formula 1. And 3. Developing an effort to compete for the overall victory at Le Mans. Any other efforts, grass-roots racing, drag racing, etc., would be covered as the need and budget allow.(in part....see full article at autoextremeist.com, note: thr article doesn't say which manufacturer COULD be leaving [Chevy, Dodge, Ford] and this column will only be up a few days), Peter M. DeLorenzo, who owns and writes for the site has been on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel a few times and tends to be controversal and a bit anti-NASCAR, however doesn't tend to just post stuff for the sake of posting it and has a lot of sources.(4-20-2006)
UPDATE: A report on the website www.autoextremist.com suggested this week that one of Detroit’s big three automakers could pull out of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series some time after NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” debuts next year. Speculation has centered on Chevrolet, given the Draconian financial state of its parent company, General Motors, which lost $10.6 billion in 2005 and $323 million in the first quarter of ’06. Alba Colon, Chevrolet’s Nextel Cup program manager, said Thursday that if there have been discussions about GM leaving Nextel Cup, she hasn’t been part of them. “I will be honest with you, I just learned about that (the autoextremist.com report) last night,” Colon said Thursday morning at Phoenix International Raceway. “I have never been in a meeting where anything like that has ever been discussed, at least not with me or anyone in my office. We have a commitment with all our teams, a long-term commitment. I can’t comment on the contract we have with our teams, but it’s longer than a year, I can tell you that. It’s more than the end of this year, and it’s not GM’s philosophy to break contracts like that.”(Speed Channel)(4-21-2006)
UPDATE 2 - Comments from all 3: Reports that one of Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturersmay be considering dropping out of NASCAR racing swirled through the Cup garage, possibly stemming from the report that Ford's SVT (Special Vehicle Team) program may be shut down in October. But Ford's Kevin Kennedy, the company's public-affairs manager for racing, said that there are no plans to get out of NASCAR: "We've seen that story, and I can assure you Ford does not plan on getting out of NASCAR. Our racing program has support at the highest levels of the company, and our research and data has shown conclusively that there's a viable business case for us being involved in the sport in terms of our market share and purchase consideration among race fans. Racing is part of the Ford DNA and has been since Henry Ford raced back in 1901."
General Motors' Pat Suhy, the company's NASCAR director, said that GM isn't leaving, either: "We're here in NASCAR and we're here to stay. It makes good business sense for us to be here. We get a great return on our investment. We have a lot of activation around this around the country with our dealers and our regional dealer groups. And we have great sponsorship partners with our teams. So if there is any truth to that, I don't know about it, and it certainly isn't us."
Ray Evernham, owner of the season's winningest operation, which is sponsored by Dodge dealers, said: "I can't speak for Dodge, but I can tell you I know they're happy. If you look at their stock, it's up. And they're the only American manufacturer with an increase in market share. I've got a really long-term contract with them, and if I were a betting man, I'd bet it's not Daimler."(Winston Salem Journal)(4-22-2006)
- Last Race for Intrepid at Texas: NASCAR's last glimpse of the Intrepid — a car that Dodge no longer produces — is expected to come this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. #12-Ryan Newman, the final Intrepid holdout, will run the car one more time before the Penske South team switches to the Charger full time. Matt Borland, Newman's crew chief, said he expects the transition to go a little easier than last year when Newman found the Charger wanting on intermediate and larger ovals. Roger Penske said recently that he's pleased with the strides the Charger has made of late, noting Kasey Kahne's victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 27. "It's good to see those cars run well," Penske said. "They had a good car in Atlanta, and we were not where we wanted to be with the Intrepid." Penske Racing's other driver, Kurt Busch, also has run the Intrepid at times this season, as has Petty Enterprises' Bobby Labonte. All the Dodge [supported] teams have run the Charger exclusively at the smaller ovals this season.
"We're going to run (the Intrepid) in the Texas race. That will probably be the final race for us," said Robbie Loomis, director of operations for Petty Enterprises. "If we went to Texas, led the most laps and won the race, it would be hard to do something different for Charlotte. But right now we're 99.9% (sure) it's going to be Chargers the rest of the year. Dodge re-entered Nextel Cup in 2001 with the Intrepid after a 24-year absence. The Charger has four wins since its debut in the 2005 Daytona 500.(USA Today)(4-6-2006)
- Only Chargers after Texas: Don Miller, the president of Penske Racing South, said that corporate headquarters informed his organization that the Intrepid can't be used after the April 9 Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. At least one of Penske Racing's two drivers -- #12-Ryan Newman and #2-Kurt Busch -- has used the Intrepid since the Daytona 500. There were plans to use the car on most 1.5- mile and 2-mile tracks the remainder of the season. The Charger has only four wins since being introduced last season. Kahne's win was the first on a 1.5-mile track where the blunt nose of the car has created aerodynamic problems. The problems have created a split among Dodge teams that have considered going to NASCAR to ask for help. Ray Evernham, the owner of Kahne's car, said that no longer is a consideration.(NASCAR.com)(3-21-2006)
- Dodge to lobby NASCAR for help: Dodge plans to lobby NASCAR officials for help with its cars by the Texas race in April, said John Fernandez, director of Dodge Motorsports Operations. The Dodge Charger has struggled since its 2005 debut. Teams and drivers complain that it doesn't handle well in traffic and prevents them from getting to the front. NASCAR rejected Dodge's request for a rule change last season to help the Charger. Fernandez said Sunday morning before the race that Las Vegas was a critical test for his teams. He says that he and other Dodge officials are trying to figure which front end is better, the Charger or the Intrepid. The key area is between where the headlights would be. "Inherently, the [Charger] is what we thought it was,'' Fernandez said. "The question is we've got a little aerodynamic imbalance ... in traffic in the Cup conditions. We've come a long way. If we got a little bit of help from NASCAR, I think we'd get over the hump on that.'' Fernandez said that he could lobby NASCAR for a rule change to help the Dodge before the Texas race if officials know what they want to request. Fernandez also said that Dodge is not planning to have a test with its teams. Dodge had a test scheduled a few weeks ago at Kentucky Speedway but that was canceled by snow. There was talk of a test after Las Vegas, but Fernandez said that race conditions offer the best test opportunity. Fernandez admits he's "nervous'' about NASCAR's car of the future.
The car is scheduled to make its debut at Bristol in March 2007, but series officials have yet to tell teams and manufacturers the exact specifications of the car. Fernandez said that he thinks NASCAR is settling on a rear wing for that car. "I'm a little bit nervous,'' Fernandez said of NASCAR's delay. "I think that we've got a long way to go to perfect that car and make sure it's a good, safe product. We still have some development to do with the car, there's no doubt about that. We've had some teething problems with it, there's no doubt about that.''(Roanoke Times)(3-13-2006)
- Davis files motions to change Dodge verdict: Bill Davis Racing has filed three motions in U.S. District Court in Michigan in response to a verdict of $6.5 million in damages it has been ordered to pay DaimlerChrysler. A jury awarded the damages to Dodge on Feb. 9 after a four-week trial in Detroit. The jury found that BDR gave confidential Dodge information to Toyota and also violated its Cup agreement with Dodge when it signed a contract with General Motors to race in the Busch Series and up to seven Cup events. BDR has filed three motions: one requesting a new trial, another to request a reduction in damages and another for a judgment that it did not violate its Dodge agreement by signing the GM contract. Among the arguments are improper jury instructions and issues dealing with the way Dodge compiled its amount of damages. If Judge George Caram Steeh upholds the verdict, BDR has announced plans to appeal.
Dodge terminated its contract with BDR in May 2003 after it discovered BDR's work with Toyota's truck program. The six-year, $18.425-million contract was scheduled to end in 2005. BDR's work on the truck was ruled legal by Steeh, but he left it up to the jury to decide whether BDR gave confidential Dodge information to Toyota.(SceneDaily.com)(3-2-2006)
- Intrepid Idea...not so good?Although #2-Kurt Busch sat on the pole for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway in his two-year-old Dodge Intrepid, the three Intrepids in the race came up behind the current Chargers entered. Busch and Penske Racing South teammate #12-Ryan Newman finished 16th and 20th Sunday, while #43-Bobby Labonte was 31st in his Petty Enterprises Intrepid. #9-Kasey Kahne, meanwhile, finished fourth in his Evernham Motorsports Charger, three spots ahead of #42-Casey Mears, who backed up his runner-up finish in the Daytona 500 with a seventh.(Speed Channel)(2-27-2006)
- Penske plans to keep running Intrepids: Penske Racing South General Manager Don Miller said on Friday that the team plans on racing 2004 Dodge Intrepids at all 1.5.- and 2.0-mile tracks for the foreseeable future. Penske drivers #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman both brought Intrepids for Sunday’s Auto Club 500, as did Petty Enterprises for #43-Bobby Labonte. All the other Dodge teams brought the aerodynamically troublesome Dodge Charger, which was introduced last year. Asked how long Penske would campaign the two-year-old Dodges, Miller was blunt. “As long as Dodge will let us,” he said.(Speed Channel)(2-24-2006)
- Petty fined in 2004 by Dodge: Kyle Petty did a favor for Richard Childress Racing and driver Kevin Harvick in 2004, and he paid $45,000 for it. Dodge fined Petty $45,000 when the veteran relieved Harvick in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol in August 2004. Harvick complained that he had lost feeling in his left arm and Petty, a Dodge driver, took over for Harvick in the RCR Chevrolet. Petty, whose car was already out of the race, did not have permission from Dodge to drive the Chevy, and Dodge promptly fined him for breaching their contract. Dodge didn't announce the fine, but it was revealed in depositions released during their recently completed trial involving Bill Davis Racing. "Initially it was a shock just because that's just a given in the sport - if a driver is down, everybody rallies and tries to help him out," Petty said Feb. 11. "Kevin was sick; Kevin felt bad, so I drove the car. When I got a phone call and a legal letter that said I owed them $45,000, that was a little bit of a shock. But at the same time, they were exactly right. I have a contract to drive for Dodge." Dodge Motorsports Director of Operations John Fernandez said Feb. 10 that he believed Petty's violation of their contract was inadvertent but that the manufacturer must protect the sanctity of its contracts.(NASCAR Scene)(2-15-2006)
- Hybrid Dodge? Dodge’s John Fernandez said a planned testing summit of Dodge Nextel Cup teams won’t take place until early next month. The group test will be conducted in an attempt to fix the aero imbalance and pitch sensitivity woes that have plagued the Dodge Charge since its introduction last season. Meanwhile, the major Dodge teams — Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Penske Racing South and Evernham Motorsports— each worked during the offseason to come up with different approaches to solve the Charger’s problems. Fernandez said Dodge may seek NASCAR’s OK for what he termed a “hybrid” car with better aero characteristics. “We’re hoping that we’ve solved the problem with the 2005 car,” he said, adding only that the hybrid “would be something a little bit different than the current Charger.”(Speed Channel)(2-1-2006)
- Davis loses Dodge lawsuit UPDATE 2: hearing the breach of contract lawsuit between DaimlerChrysler and Bill Davis Racing has been won by DaimlerChrysler/Dodge.(2-9-2006)
UPDATE: DaimlerChrysler won a $6.5 million judgment Thursday against Bill Davis Racing in a breach of contract dispute in U.S. District Court in Detroit. A 7-member jury deliberated 4 hours after a 17-day trial before awarding the judgment to the Auburn Hills carmaker, which alleged that the North Carolina-based race team violated a six-year contract in 2003 by passing confidential Dodge Motorsports technology, parts and information to Toyota. The automaker said Bill Davis Racing helped Toyota develop a prototype Tundra racing truck for NASCAR.s Craftsman Truck series at the same time Davis was under contract to prepare DaimlerChrysler stock cars for the Winston Cup Series, now the Nextel Cup Series. After terminating its contract and suing Davis in federal court, DaimlerChrysler said it learned that Davis had signed a contract in February 2003 to provide a car to General Motors for the Winston Cup Series. DaimlerChrysler said both competitors used the information to develop engines for the Craftsman, Nextel Cup and Busch racing series. Bill Davis Racing denied the charges, countersued and sought $8.5 million to $9.8 million from DaimlerChrysler for breach of contract. The jury gave DaimlerChrysler what it asked for, $6.5 million. U.S. District Judge George Steeh gave Bill Davis Racing three weeks to file post-trial legal briefs, which could include a request to set aside the verdict. The company.s lawyer declined to comment on the verdict.(Detroit Free Press)(2-9-2006)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis Racing is disappointed with the decision of a federal court jury in Detroit that Bill Davis Racing breached its Motorsports Agreement with DaimlerChrysler’s Dodge division to race vehicles in NASCAR’s Cup Series. Bill Davis, President of Bill Davis Racing, stated, “We disagree with the jury verdict. We fully intend to exercise the opportunity extended by US District Court Judge George Steeh and ask the Court to set aside this verdict. If necessary, we intend to appeal the verdict to the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Our racing sponsors and business partners have remained supportive during the legal process and our full effort remains focused on bringing success to their NASCAR programs.” Bill Davis Racing will not have any comment on this issue as the appeal process moves forward.(BDR)(2-10-2006)
- Dodge Charger Historical Facts
Dodge Charger in NASCAR: 1966-1977
Total Dodge Charger Wins: 124 (six earned in winged Charger Daytonas)
Most Charger Wins by a Driver:
* Richard Petty - 37
* Bobby Isaac - 36
* David Pearson - 17
First Dodge Charger NASCAR Win: Earl Balmer, Feb. 25, 1966, Daytona Int'l Speedway, (40 laps/100 miles/2.5-mile track) - Balmer led one lap en route to winning the 100-mile qualifying race in a No. 3 Dodge Charger owned by Ray Fox.
Last Dodge Charger NASCAR Win: Neil Bonnett, Nov. 20, 1977, Ontario Motor Speedway (200 laps/500 miles/2.5-mile track) - Bonnett drove a No. 5 Dodge bought by Jim Stacy from Nord Krauskopf of K&K Insurance to victory in the season-ending Los Angeles Times 500, leading eight times for 96 laps in his first superspeedway win. Bonnett passed Richard Petty with five laps to go and blocked his last-lap maneuver to win by two car lengths.
Drivers Who Won in a Dodge Charger:
* Earl Balmer - (1966)
* Charlie Glotzbach - (1968, 1970)
* David Pearson - (1966-67)
* Richard Brickhouse - (1969)
* Sam McQuagg - (1966)
* Ray Elder - (1971-72)
* LeeRoy Yarbrough - (1966-67)
* Richard Petty - (1973-77)
* Bobby Allison - (1967, 1969-71)
* Dave Marcis - (1975-76)
* Buddy Baker - (1967-68, 1970-73)
* Neil Bonnett - (1977)
* Bobby Isaac - (1968-1972)
NASCAR Drivers Who Drove a Charger During a Championship Season:
* David Pearson (1966)
* Bobby Isaac (1970)
* Richard Petty (1972, 1974, 1975)
WINGED WARS: Sept. 14, 1969 - Richard Brickhouse's No. 99 Nichels Engineering Dodge Charger Daytona (originally to be driven by Charlie Glotzbach) is the first "winged" stock car to win a NASCAR race. Brickhouse earns his first and only career victory amid a Professional Drivers Association boycotted Talladega 500 - the inaugural race at Alabama Int'l Motor Speedway.
200.447 MPH: March 24, 1970 - Buddy Baker becomes auto racing's first driver officially timed completing a closed-course lap at more than 200 miles per hour. Baker piloted his Cotton Owens owned No. 88 Dodge Charger Daytona to a top lap speed of 200.447 mph at Talladega Superspeedway.
(these are of couse, before the 2001 season)
Last Dodge to run in Winston Cup was #76-Phil Good at Pocono on June 8, 1985
Last Chrysler to run in Winston Cup was #78-Phil Good at Dover on Sept 15, 1985
Last Dodge to win a Winston Cup race was #5-Neil Bonnett at Ontario, CA on Nov 20, 1977
Last Dodge to win a Winston Cup Pole was #5-Neil Bonnett at Bristol, TN in April 1978
Last time a Dodge won the pole at Daytona was by Buddy Baker in 1973.
Last Dodge Daytona 500 victory was by Richard Petty in 1974.
Last time a Dodge competed in the Daytona 500 was by Rick Baldwin in 1983
