The automaker put out
feelers to potential new teams in February, and one of the teams negotiating
with Dodge was Furniture Row Racing, the Colorado-based team that currently
fields the No. 78 Chevrolet for driver Regan Smith. Furniture Row General
Manager Joe Garone said as recently as Saturday at Pocono Raceway that his team
was waiting to hear from Dodge on their plans for 2013.
“We made a proposal to
Dodge, telling them what we would need and what we had to offer,” said Garone.
“We expected that they would evaluate the proposals they received from various
teams and get back to us, but it simply didn’t happen. Weeks turned into months
with no response, and eventually, it became the old joke about, `Free Beer
Tomorrow.’
“Tomorrow never came.”
 |
| The `13 Charger will not compete |
Dodge
was once a major player in the sport, winning races and championships with
teams fielded by Petty Enterprises, Karl Kiekhaefer, Cotton Owens and others.
They withdrew from the sport in the 1970s and remained inactive until 2000,
when they returned with a high-profile, multi-car effort fielded by former
Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Ray Evernham.
“I
certainly appreciate all the opportunities Dodge gave me,” said Evernham. “I’m
sad they’re leaving before being able to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
One of the first things we talked about when they returned to the sport in 2000
was their desire to win it all. I hate to see a great manufacturer leave our
sport.”
Dodge
currently has only one NASCAR team flying its flag. Penske Racing fields a pair
of Dodge Chargers for drivers Brad Keselowski and Sam Hornish, Jr., but the
team announced in February that they will campaign Fords in 2013.
Dodge
is not withdrawing entirely from motorsports. In fact, the automaker returned
to the American Le Mans Series recently with a Viper GTS-R entry, after being
absent from the road racing circuit for more than a decade. Plans reportedly
call for a full-time, two-car ALMS effort in 2013. Dodge has also increased its
involvement in Global RallyCross this season. NASCAR, however, failed to
resonate with Dodge’s Italian parent company, Fiat, which sees more value in
road racing and rally events than NASCAR.
What a shame. Dodge could have a banner year this year with truly only one car in the mix. I hope Brad K sends them out on a high note.
ReplyDeleteA shame, surprising, but not entirely far-fetched. They would have likely struggled for years to come with Penske leaving. How ironic would it be if BK won the title this year?
ReplyDeleteLife is stranger than fiction, no doubt.
Maybe we should have seen it coming - Dodge was not committing to any teams before this, and the history of the brand's recent NASCAR foray has been one of hair-pulling mismanagement.
ReplyDeleteGood Article...they're always so well written...do you have a background in journalism outside of broadcasting? I can't remember seeing your name on anything prior to this blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob. My first job out of college was as a sportswriter for the Barre/Montpelier (VT) Times Argus. I have always enjoyed writing, and done a lot of it.
DeleteSo sad. We are a Chrysler Corp family with not only my husband and me driving Dodges (3 for the 2 of us) but our adult children as well. My husband just special ordered a new Dodge Dart after seeing it at the track at Richmond in the spring.
ReplyDeleteI work at a Chrysler / Jeep / Dodge / Ram dealership and the people at Chrysler / Fiat have no idea the negative ramifications this will have. I believe that they don't realize what a "black eye" on the whole company this will have.
ReplyDeleteI am no longer proud of this company....what a dirty shame.. they have brought shame to the corporation.
If you wanna blame someone blame Penske and Ford, Ford have a history of trying to screw Mopar cause they cant beat them were it counts, On the track period
DeleteTremendous article Moody. First, this is a travesty. An absolute travesty. a LOT of Dodge fans are going to walk away from NASCAR. Second I am also disappointed that NASCAR wasn't (apparently) more involved in keeping Dodge. I've owned GM cars my entire life, but being a FAN this cuts to the bone. What a crappy situation to put the fans and NASCAR into. I guess there will be a LOT more cars in Junior's fields now.
ReplyDeleteDoug from disgruntled NJ
This is probably a bigger indication that Penske has no real plans to completely shed their entire engine operation. The latest options they've given for the existing people hasn't sounded like anyone is willing to pony up to run it. Crying shame though. The Charger for 2013 looked incredible too.
ReplyDeleteIn these trying times, losing a manufacturer is a pretty big pill.
ReplyDeleteWith potential new sponsors already nervous about getting involved in NASCAR, this can't be reassuring. I see big changes coming to this sport out of necessity, just to stay alive. The business model of the 90's and early 2000's is no longer viable.
Sad to see Dodge go. Those Nationwide Challengers are mean lookin.
I do not like the decision but it makes perfect sense. With Penske leaving Dodge would have had to get at least 1 and preferably more teams prepared for the 2013 in 6 months, including a new engine program since Penske has been building all of the Dodge engines. Complain all you want but it is better for the brand to have no cars in NASCAR than to have a team of field fillers running in the back while they get a new team together.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the decision but it makes perfect sense. With Penske leaving Dodge would have had to get at least 1 and preferably more teams prepared for the 2013 in 6 months, including a new engine program since Penske has been building all of the Dodge engines. Complain all you want but it is better for the brand to have no cars in NASCAR than to have a team of field fillers running in the back while they get a new team together.
ReplyDeleteI think this goes to show that Fiat is not in touch with the American public and where their racing interests are
ReplyDeleteI will not be attending any more nascar races. Another failing grade for Brian France. He has hurt nascar since his taken over. Tne stands at Indy looked very bad for furture Sponsors, they said 125,000, I think maybe closer to 80,000 and it seats 250,000 plus. And most of the fans think the chase should be throwm in the basket. And do you sell alot of Vipers, no. Do you sell alot of Rams or Chargers, Yea.. You have given yourself a Big Black Eye with your customers.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed with them leaving. I am not renewing any more tickets with nascar. And the new Ram I was going to bye in January may not happen.
ReplyDelete