Following the end of the 2003 NASCAR season, GM will consolidate its resources in NASCAR to exclusively support the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and further advance and solidify the dominant position enjoyed by Chevrolet in this series. “GM Racing will focus its 2004 NASCAR program on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and will no longer race or support the Pontiac Grand Prix race car ,” said Doug Duchardt, director of GM Racing. “This transition will enable GM Racing to strengthen its Chevy Nextel Cup program and, at the same time, work with Pontiac on its future racing plans.” “Given Pontiac’s long association with NASCAR and our many great accomplishments over the years, the decision to withdraw from NASCAR was not an easy one,” said Lynn Myers, general manager of Pontiac-GMC. “Consistent with GM efforts to focus its racing programs, Chevrolet will carry the NASCAR banner while Pontiac can now devote resources to developing future racing and marketing programs consistent with our new performance products, including the GTO, Grand Prix Comp G, G6 and the GXP performance series. We are proud of our racing accomplishments and we recognize that it is a powerful engineering, people development and marketing tool. Pontiac is investigating new opportunities to highlight the performance of our vehicles on the track.” Coming into the 2003 season, the Pontiac Grand Prix won two of the past three NASCAR Winston Cup drivers’ championships: Bobby Labonte in 2000, and Tony Stewart in ’02. Chevrolet has an ongoing record of dominance in NASCAR’s modern era. Chevrolet has won 23 of the last 31 NASCAR Winston Cup manufacturers’ championships including the 2003 title with 10 different drivers capturing 17 wins in 33 races so far this year. Through 2003 in the NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck series, Chevrolet has won 10 of 13, and five of nine NASCAR manufacturers’ titles respectively. With 2003 drivers’ titles still to be determined in both series, Chevrolet has won 11 of 21 in Busch and seven of eight in Craftsman Truck.(GM PR) NO word on what the Pontiac Teams of #0 Haas CNC Racing, #01-MB2 Motorsports, #4-Morgan McClure, #10-MBV Motorsports, #32-PPI Motorsports. Would expect the #0, #01 and #10 to field Chevy’s as Hendrick Motorsports, who fields Chevy’s, provide those teams with technical support, the #4 team used to run Chevy’s, the #32 was with Ford before switching over to Pontiac and having the only 2003 Pontiac win.(10-28-2003) LOOKS LIKE CHEVY’s: been told the #01, #0 and #10 will run Chevy’s; the PPI Motorsports site has a statement by #32 owners Call Wells: “We’re disappointed, as PPI Motorsports is very proud to be a part of the Pontiac family. It was a tremendous honor to take the Pontiac Grand Prix to Victory Lane at Darlington Raceway in March. We’re continuing our preparations for 2004 and beyond, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities available to us with Chevrolet.” No word from the #4 team what their plans are.(10-28-2003) UPDATE: What those teams will drive next season is unclear except for PPI Motorsports, which had a contract through 2006 and will switch to Chevrolet. #4-Car owner Larry McClure declined comment. An official for #0-Haas CNC Racing says the team plans to run Chevrolets next season. The team runs Chevrolets in the Busch series. An official from MB2/MBV Motorsports was unavailable.( Roanoke Times ) HOWEVER on FSN’s Totally NASCAR, #01 crew chief was interviewed and said they would likely switch to Chevrolet.(10-29-2003)
