Possible Dodge Return?

[pmossberg]

Big News: Dodge and Sergio Are Ready to Return to NASCAR

The Drive
Steve Cole Smith
The DriveDecember 4, 2016

www.yahoo.com/news/big-news-dodge-sergio-ready-182556596.html

It was a press conference for Ferrari’s 2016 Finali Mondiali at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, but the best news nugget was related to NASCAR, as Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said he is eager to get Chrysler, most likely Dodge, back into NASCAR.

It was Marchionne who, in 2012, made the decision to pull the plug on NASCAR, leaving the Sprint Cup series with three manufacturers – Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. He said in the press conference that at the time, he was trying to balance the books at Chrysler, and NASCAR was an expense he could not justify. That said, Dodge had only a two-car team with Roger Penske, and won the season championship with Brad Keselowski.

Dodge had a deal with Andretti Autosport to take over Dodge in 2013, but the deal stalled with Marchionne’s final decision.

Now, Marchionne says the books are balanced, and it may be time to come back. “I had dinner with Jim France last night,” Marchionne said, “and we discussed the possibility.” France is the executive vice-president of NASCAR. Now they are looking at the best way to get back in the sport.

They should have never left, said 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, in Daytona to drive in the Ferrari Challenge series. “They are a major manufacturer, and they should be there.” One of the problems then, Wallace said, is that with Penske moving to Ford, there was really no viable alternative that could pay off in the short term. The Andretti deal likely would have taken a couple of years to gain footing in stock cars.

The only other manufacturer to have shown recent interest in NASCAR is Volkswagen, and that was before the diesel crisis. VW presented NASCAR head Brian France with a list of requests, and while most of them could be met, VW found a few sticking points that could not be resolved. They would have raced the VW Passat.

Marchionne gave no timetable for a return for NASCAR.

[jlp4345]

I say bring it on, in my opinion it can't happen quick enough, would love to see it.

On a side note, Got a feeling we're probably looking at a Mears behind the wheel of the 44 with Dillon taking over the 13 next year. It's normally always a situation like this that RPM gets. I don't know, we'll see.

[pmossberg]

I'd love to see Dodge back also!

So...if Dodge returns...would ya'll advocate for RPM to make the switch?

I have huge mixed feelings.

On one hand, it means starting all over again, which likely would mean a step further back in the field, at least at first.

On the other, depending on which teams make the switch, RPM might get more attention from Dodge.

It's the small fish in big pond vs big fish in small pond conundrum.

[djblue43]

If we can get out of the contract with Ford I say go for it!! Yes, it'd be a year of catch up but at least we'd be getting the best we could get from Dodge vs what ever we're getting out of Ford.

[jessn16]

If Dodge raised its hand tomorrow and said it wanted to come back, the soonest they could be back would be 2018 or 2019 because of NASCAR regulations. Richard isn't getting any younger. We're talking about a 2-/3-year investment just to get the brand back on the track, and that's before you make them competitive. It's a lot to ask and if RPM said it was planning a move to Dodge, I can't imagine it would do wonders for Ford's enthusiasm over supporting the team in the meantime.

Our window is small for getting Richard a competitive run before he walks away for good. I worry that making yet another manufacturer switch at this point just muddies up the process. Particularly when you consider just how flighty Sergio Marchionne is and how poorly positioned FCA is right now in America. There's real concern that Chrysler Corp isn't going to survive another 5 years.

Jess