Dodge teams sit and wait, but make plans behind closed doors

Nascar Insider

Dodge teams are waiting to see what will happen with their status for next season. Chrysler is negotiating with GM for a merger deal.

As of 10/27/2008, at 12:30 PM EST news surfaced... The U.S. Treasury Department is considering how to best provide financial assistance to facilitate a possible merger between General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC.

The Treasury Department is considering aid of at least $5 billion, which could include direct capital injections and government purchases of auto loans, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A decision on the government aid could come as early as this week.

Once the GM merger takes place, what will happen with the Dodge teams in Nascar?

GEM has a deal ready to go with Bill Davis Racing. This deal will allow GEM to add a 4th Cup team (AJ Almendinger rumored), but it would also pave the way for GEM to bolt from the hurting Dodge brand and move to Toyota. Nascar has stepped in and has put a hold on the deal until Dodge's future becomes certain. Nascar doesn't want Toyota to take over the once American auto manufacture racing series, in fear it could drive Ford & Chevy out.

It appears Petty Enterprise also has a plan and even a plan "B", if Dodge does pull out of Nascar, then Petty would take it's 2-car team and join DEI. DEI would keep the #1 (Truex) and #8 (Almirola) and drop the #15 and #01. They would add the #43 and likely transfer points from the #15 over to the #45. But, if Dodge sticks around, then Petty is likely to merge with another Dodge team, Ganassi Racing. It's rumored Target would then sponsor Bobby Labonte.

As for Penske Racing, they feel Dodge will be back next season even with a merger. A source close to the team says, "Dodge has continued to demand they will be back. They have alot of contracts, and a merger or buyout wouldn't let them out. So whoever buys them would have to honor them. We don't see any need to panic."

Robby Gordon is likely to stick with Penske, but who knows...Gordon switched from Ford to Dodge days before the season openning Daytona 500. Keeping up with his unpredictible status, the only one knows might be Gordon himself.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joan Forsythe on November 3, 2008 at 4:06pm

Rod let's not be overly critical of the UAW. They were not responsible for companies shipping jobs south of the border and to China. It's pure greed. Sure why pay a U.S. worker $7.00 an hour when we can get an Indian, or Chinese worker to do the same work for less than a dollar an hour. Nothing is made in the U.S. - look at labels on clothes, footwear, appliances, etc. Everything is made in China, Sri Lanke, Korea, etc. No wonder our economy is failing. Joan

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Blues on November 3, 2008 at 4:26pm

Please, $7.00 per hour is not in the UAW's vocabulary, and hasn't been for decades. Add a zero to the end - that's the problem. If the UAW would have made concessions, the US auto industry would be in a different place. Instead, the UAW chose to hold out for unrealistic salaries and benefits, sending the industry elsewhere, and causing them to lose their jobs. Be very critical of the UAW.