Hot Lap Report

Dodge status on GM merger

Word is coming from Dodge executives that a merger deal would likely not eliminate the Dodge brand in Nascar's Sprint Cup Series for the 2009 season. All indications are GM would absorb the Dodge brand like it has with Chevrolet & Pontiac, but would not pull the brand like it did with Oldsmobile.

Some of the current Dodge teams are under contracts with Dodge for 2009, and Dodge plans to honor those agreements. The biggest change would be sponsorship dollars and additional financial support from Dodge. This doesn't include technical support for Dodge backed teams. Most cutbacks would come from track sponsorship, promotional ties, supplying tracks with vehicles, and additional sponsorship monies.

Dodge has contracts in place with Gillette Evernham Motorsports, Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Under these organizations, Petty Enterprises has an agreement with Gillette Evernham, while Robby Gordon Motorsports has an agreement with Penkse Racing, both for the remiander of the 2008 season to lease engines. No word on whether Petty or Gordon will stay with Dodge for 2009. Petty has been rumored to possible switch to Chevrolet with a merger deal with DEI. Gordon announced recently at Talladega his team would run the full schedule next season, but has yet to name a manufacturer.

Nascar has held up Gillette Evernham from switching to Toyota until details are released after the GM - Chrysler merger. Nascar states when Toyota was allowed into Nascar rules were in place that would prevent Toyota from buying teams. That rule was ammended last year after Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota found a loop hole that allowed their team to make a switch. The ammended rule requires Nascar's approval before any team can join Toyota. The rule does allow existing teams to add additional teams, as long as they fall under the organization limit of four. This includes any satellite teams. Teams are allowed engine leasing programs that don't count against their total. Joe Gibbs Racing can't add a fourth team as long as they provide more than engines to Hall of Fame Racing. However, Penske and Gillette Evernham lease engines only and have room for an additional team. Michael Waltrip Racing recently added JTG-Daugherty's team to their operation, but merged their existing #00 team and JTG-Daugherty's #47 together. This will allow MWR room to add another team in the future.