Everyone knows Dodge is backing out of the Truck series. It appears now Dodge will effect Nascar in other levels too. What this means for GEM is no additional money and perhaps even less support. Dodge stopped their primary sponsorship with GEM two years ago (estimated nearly $35 million per year between the 2 Dodge Dealer cars). With support unable to increase and compete with Toyota, Dodge could be facing another departure from Nascar.
GEM is looking to buy BDR & their Triad Engine shop. GEM plans to switch to Toyota with this deal. BDR would keep his Truck operation and switch his Cup program to a Nationwide program. GEM would take over the Triad and build all of BDR's engines along with GEM's teams.
The biggest attraction of BDR's team is the Triad engine shop. GEM could continue to build their own engines and become a large Toyota engine supplier.
Ganassi has appeared to run from the Dodge camp by switching to Toyota via MWR. The merger would allow MWR support and sponsorship to continue all 3 current teams and add Ganassi's #42 and driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Dodge teams have seen this coming, Ryan Newman even stated that the current status of Dodge and their lack of future commintment contributed to his decision to leave Penske.
Referring to GEM, Robby has stated, "They have a better deal and they think they can get out of the agreement." I guess we'll let a judge decide, if it ever goes to court. If GEM can agree to assume BDR & their Triad shop, settling with Gordon might be easier for GEM. If GEM agrees to terms with BDR before a court hearing, it would be very damaging for GEM's case. Look for a settlement.
With only Petty and Penske, Dodge will likely do all they can to keep these two teams, including sponsorship (Petty's #45) if necessary. Unless RGM decides to stay with Dodge. This would allow RGM to actually gain more support than he's currently getting. Since RGM doesn't build in-house Dodge engines, Penske (Jasper) would likely supply RGM for Dodge.
Jack Roush was very vocal that if Nascar allowed Toyota to race in Nascar's series it would strangel Ford, Chevy & Dodge. Roush insisted Toyota had deeper pockets and it would hold an unfair advantage over the other manufacturers. It would force Chevy & Ford to form alliance teams and would probably force Dodge out! So far it appears Roush was correct. Chevy & Ford have started forming super teams (Roush-Yates & Wood Bros for Ford and RCR-DEI, Hendrick-Stewart/Haas for Chevy).
It's no suprise Dodge teams are heading for Toyota. Toyota has 3 teams in the Chase, and only 1 team just outside the Top 35 in it's sophmore season.
The only Toyota defector has been Tony Stewart. Only time will tell if Tony made a bad decision.