The year was 2012. Brad Keselowski had won his and Team Penske’s first Cup Series title in a Dodge. Yet, in the very next year, Team Penske parted ways with Dodge, meaning the iconic American brand was out of NASCAR’s top tier. But in 2022, Dodge could make a return according to President Steve Phelps.
Recently, Phelps spoke of the potential return of Dodge next year by having a neutral if not a cagey stance on the rumors.
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“It’s been widely rumored that Dodge is one of those or closest [to joining NASCAR]. I won’t confirm or deny that…I would suggest things are progressing or I would say that things are progressing. When we have something to announce, we will.”
.@StevePhelps to @CandiceSpencer: "It's been widely rumored that Dodge is one of those or closest [to joining NASCAR]. I won't confirm or deny that….I would suggest things are progressing or I would say that things are progressing. When we have something to announce, we will." pic.twitter.com/zTOH61GkEI
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) November 9, 2021
The President also addressed the larger topic of other OEMs potentially entering NASCAR soon. He explained an announcement would’ve been made already, if not for the pandemic.
“We’ve made no bones about the fact that we want to have a new OEM in our sport. I think we got delayed with the pandemic. With that said, we are an attractive place, I believe, for OEMs to come into the sport. Now is an important opportunity for them to do that because of the Next Gen car”
“I also believe the fact that the sport is growing and has a relevance that it hasn’t had in decades is causing some real interest from other OEMs.”
NASCAR has no competition according to Steve Phelps
Steve Phelps, who took on the job in 2018, has successfully navigated NASCAR onto a path of growth. He claimed that NASCAR has been the most stable sport on television since 2018.
As reported in Front Stretch, Phelps said, “No other sport, none, can match what NASCAR has done from a stability standpoint with our ratings.”
In 2022, NASCAR will introduce the ‘Next Gen’ car, and the entire community is waiting in patience to see how it fares.
But Phelps emphasized that the new car and the ratings are a signal of NASCAR’s growth as a brand, which is key in attracting ‘other brands’ back to the sport.
With ratings going up consistently, it may be that NASCAR really has no competition and brands may be compelled to return.
Also Read: “Game-Changer”- NASCAR President Reveals Details on Progress of the 2022 Next Gen Car
