| This year's season of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup | | | | in the world, and they will catch up. Everybody will |
| Series, specifically the first ever NASCAR Car of | | | | catch up, but I think a couple of cars will be dominant |
| Tomorrow (COT) race will be the stage for the | | | | initially because they've done their homework ahead |
| racing debut of Chrysler Group's all-new 2008 Dodge | | | | of time." |
| Avenger. After several test drives for the 2008 | | | | Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers |
| Dodge Avenger, the team is now heading in the | | | | UAW Dodge and former Bristol winner: |
| Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in | | | | "I think we're all excited about getting the Avenger |
| Tennessee to put the car on its first racing | | | | on the racetrack for the first time and to carry it to |
| appearance next week, followed by 15 other racing | | | | Bristol of all places, we're definitely going to test its |
| events of the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow. | | | | durability and how it holds up under pressure. Bristol is |
| Mike Accavitti, Director of Dodge Motorsports and | | | | an action-packed race, and it's always a tough race. |
| SRT Marketing, Chrysler Group said: | | | | Being the first COT race in the history of NASCAR |
| "Dodge is ready for the challenge at Bristol, and we | | | | makes it even more exciting." |
| think the Dodge Avenger is the car to beat. We | | | | "Everybody will bring their best stuff. You want to |
| believe that the Avenger can bring Dodge a | | | | get started on the right foot. The Avenger is a great |
| championship in the future, and we can't wait to start | | | | tool. We feel like Dodge has done a great job giving |
| that campaign this weekend." | | | | us everything to work with correctly. Hopefully, we |
| "And, for the first Dodge driver to win a COT race, | | | | can put it all into motion and have a good weekend." |
| we will donate an all-new Dodge Avenger to the | | | | he added |
| charity of his choice," he added. | | | | Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers |
| The 2008 Dodge Avenger is equipped with a Word | | | | UAW Dodge: |
| Engine that offers an improved fuel efficiency and | | | | "That will be the first bigger track we have with the |
| low exhaust emissions without affecting the car's | | | | Avenger. It's going to be an eye-opening weekend. |
| powerful performance. The 2008 Dodge Avenger | | | | It's going to be tough to make that car work there. |
| also comes with quality interior parts like those VW | | | | It's going to be much different than what it's been in |
| GTI parts found on the VW GTI model. | | | | the past, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I |
| The drivers of major Dodge teams are excited on | | | | think Darlington is going to be a bigger change in the |
| the racing debut of the new 2008 Dodge Avenger. | | | | way cars run than Bristol. I think Bristol will be similar |
| They are pleased to join the 2008 Dodge Avenger | | | | to what it's been in the past with the COT, and |
| at the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow racing events. | | | | Martinsville will be similar. Darlington will be a big |
| Here is what they said. | | | | change, and that's when all 43 drivers and teams will |
| David Stremme, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light | | | | figure out the cars are a lot different than what |
| Dodge: | | | | we've been racing." |
| "You can test it all you want, but we're not going to | | | | Lastly, Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite |
| know what we're really dealing with until we race it. | | | | Dodge Avenger who won last year's Food City 500 |
| Some of the guys have been complaining about it, | | | | commented: |
| but I'm anxious to race it. Anything can and usually | | | | "I just always get a spring in my step when we |
| does happen at Bristol, so it should be a very | | | | come back to Bristol. I enjoy this place like no other. |
| interesting race for the competitors and a very | | | | At this place, 500 laps is without a doubt the hottest |
| entertaining one for the fans." | | | | ticket in NASCAR. We're definitely excited about the |
| No. 2 Miller Lite Crew Chief Roy McCauley: | | | | Dodge Avenger and what it can do for our team. |
| "With the Avenger there's a large window of | | | | Having the first COT race at Bristol will be just like |
| opportunity, and the people that do their homework | | | | jumping into a full tank of sharks and swimming |
| the most will exploit that window of opportunity | | | | around with them. It'll probably come down to |
| initially. The garage area is full of the smartest racers | | | | survival. |