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Known As ‘Chief,’ Petty Crafted Winners From Engines of Humble Origin
Maurice “Chief” Petty is proclaimed as the “silent” figure at Petty Enterprises.
Yet his value as the team’s engine builder cannot be overstated. Petty, a self-taught mechanical magician, squeezed horsepower – and longevity – out of engines designed not for high-speed competition but daily use on America’s highways. Continue reading
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with a burnout after winning the series championship for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead – November 18, 2012
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Dodge is organizing for a return back to NASCAR, perhaps sooner than expected
Promising news is emerging that may have NASCAR and Dodge fans excited. Funding for the Dodge program in NASCAR has been approved says, Ralph Gilles.
Ray Alexander first reported that Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of the SRT Brand and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler Group LLC, said that NASCAR funding is approved by Chrysler but lack of personnel played a large role in Dodge’s exit from the sport. Personnel needed for Dodge’s NASCAR program includes engine builders, as well as a winning and championship contending team. But Gilles added, Chrysler is already talking to potential teams to bring back Dodge in the sport..
Possible teams that could be part of a Dodge return to NASCAR are uncertain. Chrysler tried to find potential teams to stay in the sport last season after Penske Racing announced that they would be switching to Ford. Chrysler was unable to find a suitable team that met their criteria and decided to back out of NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season.
A possible suitor is, Richard Petty Motorsports, as they have been running slightly better in 2013, including three straight top-ten performances between the No. 9 and No. 43 the past three weeks. Only Dodge knows exactly the criteria they are looking for in a potential team.
Ralph Gilles did not mention when Chrysler plans to have a Dodge back in the Sprint Cup field. Gilles also did not mention any additions to personnel for the NASCAR program at this time. But the recent news is a move in the right direction for Dodge’s return and any sign is better than no sign.
More potential news of a return for Dodge may come as the summer months draw closer and teams finalize deals for 2014. It is also possible for Dodge to plan a return that will come after 2014, only time will tell the rest of this story.
Michael Annett, driver of the #43 Pilot Ford, walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2013
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Everything in life carries risks. Every time we wake up and get ready for the day, everything we do has its own risks. Every time a NASCAR driver climbs behind the wheel and straps in, they know their risk of getting hurt or possibly even killed.
Since NASCAR’s inception, several drivers have lost their lives and countless others have suffered a variety of injuries. When a driver gets hurt, they will still try to climb behind the wheel the following weekend unless it’s prevented by the severity of their injury. They may also have a driver on stand-by for a week or two in case they can’t go the distance.
During this past weekend’s race at Daytona, Michael Annett was caught up in a wreck that sent him to the hospital with pain & bruising in his chest. Further evaluation led to the diagnosis of a fractured and dislocated sternum, which was corrected with surgery Wednesday. Annett’s injury will keep him out of the car for an indefinite period of time while he heals. RPM is hopeful that Annett will return to the car in 6-8 weeks, although nothing is definite at this time. Continue reading
Earlier this week NASCAR introduced their new first-of-its-kind Fan and Media Engagement Center – FMEC – at NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, NC.
Coincidentally, this week also features Sprint Cup teams testing the Gen-Six car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Continue reading