NASCAR Dodge Cars Undergoes Changes

h fourteen races already in the books in the 2007exerting effort on improving their performance of
Nextel Cup Series, Chevrolet cars are still dominatingthe Car of Tomorrow which is also known as the
the field with thirteen wins. The only other car toCOT. “At the same time, we’re trying to
finish at this year’s Nextel Cup is Mattfigure out the COT, so that’s really what kind
Kenseth’s Number 17 Ford at the Auto Clubof got us behind the 8 ball. We feel like we’re
500, the second race of the season. From that racereally picking up some steam now in our
through the Ponoco 500 held at the Poconoperformance, average finish performance is showing
Raceway, the Chevrolet Impalas have won everyit,” he said.
race.One of the most promising young drivers this season
The Dodge Avenger NASCAR car though is making adriving a Dodge is Kasey Kahne. The 2004 NASCAR
challenge to the domination of Chevrolet withNextel Cup Rookie of the Year has not finished in the
back-to-back second place for Ryan Newman who istop ten since the first race of the season. Normally, it
driving the Number 12 Dodge Avenger.would cause for concern for Dodge. Accavitti though
At the Pocono 500, the Dodge cars fielded for thisis confident that Kahne has what it takes to perform
year’s Nextel Cup Series has been fitted withwell for the remainder of the season. “Kasey is
new noses in the hope that the change will givethe real deal. We have the utmost faith in Kasey and
Dodge its first win of the season. Unfortunatelythe Evernham Motorsports Organization.
though, critics pointed out that the new nose installedThey’re a class act team, and they’re
may have cost Dodge a win at the race.going to do what they need to do to get Kasey
Mike Accavitti, the Director of the Dodge Brand andback in victory lane,” says Accavitti.
SRT Marketing and Communication, has this to sayWhile Kasey Kahne is struggling, Ryan Newman,
about the new nose having put them behind theanother Dodge driver, is performing well. He seems
competition: “We tested the nose togetherto be coasting in the most recent races of the
several times last year. We all came to a conclusion.season as if he is driving a Dodge cold air intake
We all reached an agreement that it was the rightsystem-equipped Dodge Charger. Accavitti addressed
thing to do. Every team had an input and every teamthe success of Newman compared to the lackluster
agreed to that. When we put the nose on the car, itperformance of other Dodge cars saying: “This is
affected the suspension setup more on thoseone of the biggest issues we’ve had. We can
downforce tracks than we had anticipated.go incredibly fast as a group for one lap. We saw this
It’s taken a little while to get our arms aroundactually last year. Last year the hypothesis was that
what the issues were and get some action plans init’s a clean air issue.”
place.”With the Dodge cars receiving modifications and
Accavitti also pointed out that aside from focusing onimproving their performance, it would be easy to
the performance of their current cars, they are alsobelieve that a Dodge victory will be coming soon.