Dodge Leaves NASCAR

[Beetle]

Dodge opened Tuesday with hints it was set to withdraw from NASCAR for 2013. Later Tuesday, Dodge officials confirmed the pullout effective at the end of the year.

"Following our thorough five month process weighing all options in the sport, we have decided to withdraw from NASCAR racing," SRT Motorsports and CEO Ralph Gilles said in an opening statement during a 2:30 p.m. ET news conference. "You have no idea how much we feel the pain."

The manufacturer was left without a major team when Roger Penske's organization announced at the start of the year it would switch from Dodges to Fords in 2013, and on Monday it was confirmed Penske - which currently builds its own Dodge engines - would instead have Roush Yates-built Ford engines.

The story was additionally reported by Autoextremist's Peter De Lorenzo late Sunday night, then picked up late Monday and into Tuesday by further outlets, including NASCAR's website Tuesday morning. Dodge already pulled out of this week's two-day tire test of 2013 cars at Martinsville Speedway.

Gilles said the "committee-level" decision was taken only last Friday, after it was unable to put together the structure it thought necessary to reach its goals. He denied financial reasons played in the company's decision.

"Following the announcement of Penske Racing in March 12, we set up a detailed evaluation process to determine who our perspective new partners could be and specifically what the future would hold for us on and off the racetrack," Gilles said.

"We were initially pleased to see the vast amount of interest from teams and sponsors that came our way with a lot of interesting packages and ideas. We couldn't unfortunately put together a structure that made sense to continue our business and competitive objectives for next year.

"This decision was not based on budgets, even though we have diversified in many sports this year, this was really a NASCAR-centric discussion and the case of the different pieces of the puzzle not fitting together to satisfy the structure we needed to fit our overall business and competitive objectives."

This year Dodge has won three Sprint Cup races with Brad Keselowski, currently one of the leading entries into this year's Chase, while he has also notched up three victories in the Nationwide Series where his Penske team-mate Sam Hornish Jr is a title contender.

Gilles said Dodge remains committed to finishing its association with Penske Racing on a high at the end of the year.

"We're committed to and focused on the 2012 season with Mr. Penske and we're going to do anything in our power to secure hopefully a Chase win and also a championship potentially in the Nationwide Series," Gilles added.

Beyond the fact there wouldn't be a flagship team to carry the squad into 2013, Dodge's parent company Chrysler is now aligned with Fiat, whose interest in NASCAR would appear to be waning. The SRT Viper American Le Mans Series program premiered last weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which signaled a greater marketing intent there to coincide with the relaunch of the Viper road car, announced in April.

Dodge returned to NASCAR in 2001 with Ray Evernham's team after a 24-year hiatus since 1977. It scored pole at its first race back, the 2001 Daytona 500 with Bill Elliott. Dodge has won 50 races since 2001, led by Penske's 29 as an organization. It has not won a series championship in Sprint Cup, although it did win the 2010 Nationwide Series title with Brad Keselowski.

Your thoughts? I noticed a few years ago that the Dodge numbers are down and then it just tanked after that. I knew this one was coming, I just didn't know quite when. Turns out they won't be back for 2013, according to RACER Magazine. Sad, but expected.

Who do you think will replace them as fourth manufacturer, if any? I see Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, or Kia.

Here's the full article: http://www.racer.com/dodge-set-to-an...=NTAxMzU1MTkS1

[Salamus]

Dodge never really had a high amount of cars/teams like Chevy or Ford (or Toyota). Also, I don't think they invested in the sport as much as the other manufacturers. And for Dodge's A-Team (Penske) to jump ship made things a lot worse. It is disappointing they are leaving considering they have the best looking 2013 car.

There has been no word of a fourth manufacturer and there probably won't be one. But I am sure Dodge will return to NASCAR in the future even stronger (and with a capable team).

[gomick]

What about Pontiac, when they coming back? Do they still exist, does Oldsmobile & Buick still exist?

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by gomick

What about Pontiac, when they coming back? Do they still exist, does Oldsmobile & Buick still exist?

Pontiac: Dead since 2010
Olds: Dead since 2004
Buick: Still around

[fieldodreams79]

[FIRE]

Without a major team like Penske, JGR, etc it doesn't make sense for Dodge to continue in NASCAR.


Are teams still allowed to race with a Dodge in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks?
Or is the Dodge logo persona non grata after this season.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Are teams still allowed to race with a Dodge in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks?
Or is the Dodge logo persona non grata after this season.

I was wondering the same. Media mix Nascar and Cup the whole time.

[picchiofan]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Are teams still allowed to race with a Dodge in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks?
Or is the Dodge logo persona non grata after this season.

I imagine we'll still see smaller privateer teams running the Dodge body in Nationwide as it's still homologated, there were still teams running Dodges in Trucks despite that they officially pulled out of that series a few years ago.

As for cup? Nope. New bodies next year, and that development effort was to be handled by Penske. With no teams, it's DOA for the moment.

[kelvin88]

Nissan...

[FIRE]

Nissna Altima (Cup)?
Nissan Altima Coupé (N'wide)?
Nissan Titan (Trucks)?

But to be honost I don't see any manufacturer joining NASCAR in the near future.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Nissna Altima (Cup)?
Nissan Altima Coupé (N'wide)?
Nissan Titan (Trucks)?

But to be honost I don't see any manufacturer joining NASCAR in the near future.

How about the GT-R, is it viable to race in NASCAR? (Sprint Cup or Nationwide)

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

How about the GT-R, is it viable to race in NASCAR? (Sprint Cup or Nationwide)

Nissan wouldn't use the GT-R nameplate because it just doesn't fit with what NASCAR is. It's like Chevrolet using the Corvette...it just doesn't fit.

[FAS33]

thanks for comin Dodge, you were Useless anyways

[jimbo17]

FAS33! I have been reading this forum for many years and have never wanted to post till now! Dodge(RE CHRYSLER) have been the most succsesfull car ever in the history of NASCAR! They had to change the rules to stop the HEMI from winning and give the others a chance!The KING Richard Petty, the most winningest driver of all time raced Chrysler products nearly exclusivly during his carreer! So how do you think that Dodge was useless! I suspect you are one of those Bow Tie fans? Dodge leaving Nascar is one of the saddest days of Nascar! I hope that this is not the writing on the wall for Nascar!

[kelvin88]

You can rest assured NASCAR will continue.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by jimbo17

FAS33! I have been reading this forum for many years and have never wanted to post till now! Dodge(RE CHRYSLER) have been the most succsesfull car ever in the history of NASCAR! They had to change the rules to stop the HEMI from winning and give the others a chance!The KING Richard Petty, the most winningest driver of all time raced Chrysler products nearly exclusivly during his carreer! So how do you think that Dodge was useless! I suspect you are one of those Bow Tie fans? Dodge leaving Nascar is one of the saddest days of Nascar! I hope that this is not the writing on the wall for Nascar!

Someone needs a Prozac.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by jimbo17

FAS33! I have been reading this forum for many years and have never wanted to post till now! Dodge(RE CHRYSLER) have been the most succsesfull car ever in the history of NASCAR! They had to change the rules to stop the HEMI from winning and give the others a chance!The KING Richard Petty, the most winningest driver of all time raced Chrysler products nearly exclusivly during his carreer! So how do you think that Dodge was useless! I suspect you are one of those Bow Tie fans? Dodge leaving Nascar is one of the saddest days of Nascar! I hope that this is not the writing on the wall for Nascar!

welcome to the forum great to see some passion.

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by jimbo17

FAS33! I have been reading this forum for many years and have never wanted to post till now! Dodge(RE CHRYSLER) have been the most succsesfull car ever in the history of NASCAR! They had to change the rules to stop the HEMI from winning and give the others a chance!The KING Richard Petty, the most winningest driver of all time raced Chrysler products nearly exclusivly during his carreer! So how do you think that Dodge was useless! I suspect you are one of those Bow Tie fans? Dodge leaving Nascar is one of the saddest days of Nascar! I hope that this is not the writing on the wall for Nascar!

if their so good why are they quitting NASCAR?
ps: Ford all the way!!

[jimbo17]

Maybe Chrysler have relized NASCAR is no longer "the good ole boys"
as they now compete against the japanese! Who will be next to jion? Korea? (hyundai or kia) Who will be the next to leave? Ford Australia is slowly leaving V8 supercar! Will Ford be the next to leave NASCAR?

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by jimbo17

Maybe Chrysler have relized NASCAR is no longer "the good ole boys"
as they now compete against the japanese! Who will be next to jion? Korea? (hyundai or kia) Who will be the next to leave? Ford Australia is slowly leaving V8 supercar! Will Ford be the next to leave NASCAR?

Yet they still compete in the V8 Supercars, 2016 is the year that maybe the Falcon will be gone forever
but does that stop Ford Australia from quitting the V8SC?? so even though fords Aus future is unknown they still go the ballz to keep supporting FPR and other ford teams till they die, unlike Dodge..

[NaBUru38]

If the Falcon gets dropped, they can use the Mondeo / Fusion.

Back to Nascar, having three manufacturers isn't bad, but it's dangerous because they are one away from two.

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

If the Falcon gets dropped, they can use the Mondeo / Fusion.


Back to Nascar, having three manufacturers isn't bad, but it's dangerous because they are one away from two.

oh its not that bad man, it worked a treat in the V8's

[HJJ]

Dodge hopes to return to NASCAR: The chief of Dodge Motorsports is hopeful that the manufacturer will return to NASCAR in the not too distant future. "Going forward, we're going to take the year off, evaluate the potential," Ralph Gilles told ESPN.com after a panel discussion on the future of motorsports at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show. "We also did a lot of data mining. Part of the issue our management team wanted was, what are we really getting out of NASCAR? We only have two cars out of a huge field. Are we getting our money's worth? Ironically, this year we got beyond our money's worth. How you can replicate that? I don't know. That's what we're looking at right now." The matter of returning to the sport, whether that is in 2014 or another year in the near future, is finding an organization as strong and viable as Penske Racing. The lack of such a team left Dodge with little option but to pull out in 2013. "The Dodge brand is interested," Gilles said of a return. "It would be hard to replace Roger [Penske], because Roger has a long-term deal with Ford. The capacity isn't there to have that right now. It's going to be tough, but we'll have to look at it." Gilles said the move toward more brand identity with the 2013 car could help expedite [Dodge's return].(ESPN)(11-1-2012)

.

[GTRMagic]

And looks like they will leave 2012 on a winner...

Amazing... they should have threatened to leave a few years ago...

[picchiofan]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

And looks like they will leave 2012 on a winner...

Amazing... they should have threatened to leave a few years ago...

Dodge isn't leaving voluntarily. They put a good bit of money into their 2013 new body program, and then Penske announced they were leaving.

After Dodge missed the first two tests for the new car, it appeared that they would be missing the third one. At which point, NASCAR told them that if they didn't show for that one, to not bother showing up for anything else. Hence why we saw the mad dash with a week to go where they were trying to help get RGM or Furniture Row enough funding to purchase the Penske engine shop and become the defacto dodge program. It didn't work out, and now they're done for 2013. At this point, I imagine they'll have a program for 2014 in place.