Dodge officials expect Gillett Evernham Motorsports to remain with the manufacturer next season, despite reports the team wants to abandon the slumping automaker for a deal with Toyota.
Mike Delahanty, senior manager for Dodge Motorsports programs, called a possible GEM switch to Toyota “nothing but pure speculation.” GEM is believed to be in talks to purchase Bill Davis Racing, one of the original Toyota teams, as a way to expand to four cars.
“Dodge and Gillett Evernham have a long history that dates back to our return to Sprint Cup racing. Dodge and GEM have a long-term contract in place, and we plan to continue as partners in NASCAR,” Delahanty said.
“We’re aware and have had discussions about GEM’s interest in adding a fourth car, but there’s been never any discussion about running anything other than anything but a Dodge. Anything beyond that, we classify as just pure speculation.”
Dodge, meanwhile, is lagging beyond other manufacturers in the showroom and on the race track. It’s the only one of the four NASCAR makes that failed to qualify for the Chase for the championship, even though Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 in a Dodge and GEM driver Kasey Kahne posted two victories.
“We are committed,” he said. “We’ve got long-term contracts in place, not only with Gillett Evernham but with Penske Racing, with Petty and with Chip Ganassi Racing, so we’re committed to the sport and I don’t know how many times we have to repeat it.”
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