Dodge has no immediate plans to expand the number of factory-backed Winston Cup programs, despite cutting ties last week to Bill Davis Racing. “Something like that would not come as a direct, hasty response to what has occurred,” said Todd Goyer, manager of Dodge Motorsports. “I can’t say what will happen down the road, however.” Last week, Dodge severed its contract to provide factory support to BDR’s Winston Cup teams with drivers Ward Burton and Kenny Wallace. The manufacturer would not comment on the specific reason for its move, with Goyer saying only that BDR’s actions were “intolerable.” Speculation in the Winston Cup garage Friday was BDR was involved with Toyota and its plans to enter the NASCAR Truck series next season. Goyer would not directly respond to that issue, saying instead: “As a hypothetical question, it’s safe to say if a Dodge team was working with another manufacturer, we would have concerns.” BAM Racing, which fields the #49 Dodges for Ken Schrader, hopes to pick up some of backing previously directed to BDR. BAM currently receives little factory support from Dodge. “The Dodge people know what their plans are for the rest of the year. Anything they can do for us, the gratitude would certainly be unlimited,” said Eddie Jones, BAM’s general manager. “They are already doing the things for us they can. They had a limited number of contracts and we weren’t one of them. But they have been doing everything they could because they have seen our loyalty to the brand.” Although it has no full-time primary sponsor, BAM has entered every race this season and has used Dodges since it began a part-time schedule last season. BDR officials again Friday declined to comment on the situation.( ThatsRacin.com )(5-31-2003)
