[Snippet] And how about those Dodges? Word has come down from the “Corporate Offices” stating that the 2004 Intrepid body style will not be raced after Texas in April and the Dodge Boys seem to have differing opinions on both that and the idea of appealing to NASCAR for relief from what is being billed as the “evil” nose on the Charger.
Ray Evernham seems quite content with things just as they are. That could be because Kasey Kahne won on Sunday at Atlanta and is sitting second in the points right now, only 50 points out of the lead. A second Evernham driver, Scott Riggs, finished 11th, while Kyle Petty (Petty Enterprises) finished 8th and Reed Sorenson (Ganassi Racing) finished 10th…all driving Chargers.
A bit disconcerted about losing access to the Intrepid are voices coming from Penske Racing South, where drivers Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch have been swapping back and forth between the two Dodge body styles for all of the young season. Penske South has also been at the forefront in wanting all of the Dodge teams to appeal to NASCAR for some adjustments to the pug-nosed Charger.
Penske cars didn’t fare well at Atlanta, but their problems had more to do with wrinkled fenders (Not of their own making) than they did with the nose of either car. In the long run, it seems that won’t matter, as Daimler-Chrysler has declared what will be the end if the Intrepid in Nextel Cup. They’re the ones making the car and doing the advertising, so it’s their ball and their game.
Ray Evernham summed it up this way. "I do not know why we can't seem to agree,'' he said of the Dodge teams. “ We believe in going one way. Some teams believe in going another way. Right now, I don't think we're going to go to NASCAR and ask for anything. We're trying to get the cars better ourselves.'' In seeming agreement, Kyle Petty offered this statement, "For all the Dodge Dealers out there, maybe this will put that dreaded Intrepid thing to rest. All the Dodge teams have worked hard to get better, so maybe the Charger is the way we need to go.'' I have to confess; I don’t know how or in what way all that affects Bill Davis Racing. BDR fields Dodges, but without any factory backing. That might be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.
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