By Field Level Media
Oct 13 (Field Level Media) – Dodge is “very close” to finalizing its return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
Negotiations are ongoing but sources said Dodge is on track to participate in the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 21.
Dodge, which last raced in the Cup Series in 2012, will join Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota as the circuit’s fourth manufacturer.
Kaulig Racing, which currently fields two Chevrolets in the Cup Series, is expected to switch to Dodge, per the report. Kaulig Racing uses Ram Trucks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and Ram Trucks and Dodge are both owned by the parent company Stellantis North America.
Dodge also is in the process of finalizing a partnership with ECR Engines to at least temporarily supply its engines for the Cup Series, per The Athletic. ECR Engines is owned by Cup Series competitor Richard Childress Racing.
Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, told The Athletic last week that Dodge’s impending return is a “good thing” for the sport.
“So we certainly welcome Dodge as a fourth manufacturer,” he said. “We welcome more beyond that into NASCAR. We want to compete against the best manufacturers in the world and to have more of that OEM (original engine manufacturer) rivalry on track. So certainly, if Dodge is going to come to Cup, just like Ram came to the truck, we welcome them.”
(–Field Level Media)
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