Dodge’s president and CEO said Sunday that while his company has no plans to expand its participation, it is committed to remaining in stock car racing.
“We intend to remain in NASCAR for the foreseeable future,’’ Mike Accavitti told a group of reporters before Sunday’s Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Dodge, emerging from bankruptcy protection, works with Richard Petty Motorsports and Penske Racing, which field seven Sprint Cup teams. The company once provided support to about twice that many.
Accavitti said Dodge tried backing more teams in the past, but it spread resources too thin. At its current level of support, Dodge has two drivers – Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne – in solid contention to make NASCAR’s 10-race playoff Chase … Details
Where pole positions at Michigan International Speedway are concerned, Brian Vickers is 2-for-2 this season.
Vickers turned a lap at the 2-mile speedway in 38.453 seconds Friday (187.242 mph) to win the top starting spot for Sunday’s Carfax 400. The pole was Vickers’ third consecutive at MIS, dating to last August, and his sixth overall this season, tops in the Cup Series.
Vickers, who has 11 career poles, knocked Mark Martin (187.013 mph) from the top spot, after Martin had unseated Juan Montoya (186.819 mph) from the provisional pole. Jimmie Johnson (186.432 mph) and Martin Truex Jr. (186.263 mph) will follow Vickers, Martin and Montoya to the green flag…Â Details
Washington native, Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and Sound Harley-Davidson, a Marysville, Wash. motorcycle dealer, have teamed up to present “Raising Kahne for Kids” benefit motorcycle ride on Sunday, Sept. 13th to raise funds for the Kasey Kahne Foundation, whose beneficiaries include local charities like the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle.
Organizing the event is Washington State Patrol Officer Lance Ramsay, who met Kahne several years ago during a local appearance. “Kasey has given so much back to the communities throughout Washington over the past several years,” Ramsay said. “The ride allows more people to get personally involved and directly support the Kasey Kahne Foundation. This is going to be a huge inaugural ride…Â Details
Jeff Gordon said Tuesday he will be ready to race this weekend, even though the four-time NASCAR champion has a stiff back from his spectacular accident at Watkins Glen.
Gordon, who has been bothered by an aching back for more than a year, went head-on into a steel barrier during Monday’s road course race. The impact aggravated his back, but he should be able to handle this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway…Â Details