Fast Track Racing© Thomas M. Sampson
Aug 21, 2000
The Dodge Intrepid R/T, Pontiac in 2001, TV announcers, and the Pepsi 400 from Michigan.
Dodge Intrepid R/T .......... Submitted to NASCAR
Dodge officials have formally submitted the Dodge Intrepid R/T Winston Cup car to NASCAR. Naturally, Cup director Gary Nelson won't go out on a limb and state when he feels the car will be approved. Nelson has had the car in the wind tunnel, and has tested it at the Atlanta track. Reports up to this point are positive, both tests went well, but Nelson alluded that there are some questions that needed to be addressed. When Nelson and his testing crew finish their test, they will sit down with the Dodge people to iron out a few particulars that they found during testing. To my knowledge, those particulars haven't been made public.
Dodge officials have also stated that the engine program is still in the testing stages, and that the engine won't be submitted for NASCAR approval any time soon. They seem to be having a problem getting the horsepower and durability on the same scale. What they have now isn't up to a competitive level with the Ford and GM engines.
At this time, there will be 10 Dodges on the track for the 2001 season fielded by five teams. Petty Enterprises is reported to be fielding three, Chip Ganassi Racing, Evernham Motorsports, and Bill Davis Racing will each field two. Melling Racing, one of the few remaining single car operations, will field one.
Pontiac .............. In 2001?
I'm wondering what will become of Pontiac on the Cup racing scene. With the Petty and Davis organizations jumping ship, Pontiac has taken quite a hit. As it stands now, MB2 Motorsports (or MBV (Valvoline) for 2001) will be fielding the No. 10 Pontiac for Johnny Benson and the No. 36 Pontiac for Ken Schrader. Joe Gibbs Racing will be fielding the No. 18 and 20 for Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. Those will be the only two car teams left. Then you have the single car teams of No. 14, which is now driven by Rick Mast for A. J. Foyt Racing and the No. 27 driven by rookie Mike Bliss for Eel River Racing.
The only winning team fielding Pontiacs now is Joe Gibbs Racing, and it was rumored earlier this season that they were unhappy with Pontiac and may also switch auto manufacturers for the 2001 season. But, that was just a rumor. They have been doing very well. Bobby Labonte's leading the championship battle with wins at Indy and Rockingham and Tony Stewart has wins at Dover, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
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