Dodge commits to NASCAR
#1
09-06-2006, 02:51 AM
Dodge commits to NASCAR
Rumors squashed or is Ford leaving?
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)
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 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)
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)
