Dodge’s return to the NASCAR Cup Series is accelerating, according to a new report from The Athletic.
When the automaker’s sister brand Ram entered the Truck Series this season with Kaulig Racing, Tim Kuniskis, Ram CEO and head of all the American Stellantis Brands, said he intended to bring Dodge back to the Cup Series as soon as possible.
“I told everybody our goal would be to get into Cup, Daytona next year, and so far, every single person has told me that’s absolutely impossible and I’m crazy and it’s never going to happen. I don’t know. I’m not giving up yet,” Kuniskis told American Cars And Racing in January.
The NASCAR Cup Series uses a largely spec chassis, but automakers still need to design their own bodies and source unique engines.
According to The Athletic, Dodge has already started testing a Charger-style body in the wind tunnel and has also had a “breakthrough” that accelerated its engine development program.
A Dodge spokesman told American Cars And Racing that the brand had no comment on the report. There are also no upcoming events on its schedule that would suggest an announcement is imminent.
Dodge left the Cup Series after Brad Keselowski won the championship with Team Penske, which switched to Ford the following season. Kaulig Racing currently fields Chevrolets in the Cup Series, but is no longer tied to the automaker as it prepares for the eventual move to Dodge. If it happens next year, there will be an interesting reunion.
Kaulig driver A.J. Allmendinger has confirmed he will be returning to the team next season. His first attempt to race in the Cup Series was in a Team Red Bull Dodge in 2006, but he failed to qualify for the two races he was entered in. However, he later raced Dodges for Richard Petty Motorsports and Team Penske, including during Keselowski’s championship season.
The clock is ticking if Dodge wants to be at Daytona in February, however. Ram confirmed its return to the Truck Series last June and followed that up with the Kaulig partnership announcement in August.
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