ReBirth of Dodge?
Since Dodge announced it's return to the Cup Series in May 2000 , it struggled, until 2005. In 2001 Bill Elliott sat on pole for the Daytona 500 and the Pennzoil 400. Others who sat on Pole in 2001 were Jason Leffler ( Kansas ) Casey Atwood  ( Phoenix ) , Stacey Compton ( Talladega ) and , Sterling Marlin ( Pepsi 400 ). But the only 3 winners were Marlin , Burton and Elliott ( Elliott : Homestead . Marlin : Michigan , Lowes. Burton : Darlington ) and the year was dominated by Chevorlet. In 2002 Bill Elliott , Ward Burton and Marlin were again the only ones to win execpt Jamie McMurray filling in for Marlin. The best point finisher was Elliott for the secong year in the row. 2003 brought new-comers to Dodge, Penske Racing joined in with Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace.Also, Jimmy Spencer was out of the #41 , and came in was Casey Mears ,and Gannassi Started a new team, #42 Jamie McMurray after he won at Lowes for Marlin. And Petty Enterprises welcomed open-wheeled star Christan Fittipaldi. Ryan Newman did an awesome job in 2003 ,winning 9 races. Bill Elliott also won one. Newman was the highest point finisher. Also, 2004 brought a bright newcomer, Kasey Kahne , hired in Victory Lane at Homestead after he won the Busch race driving for Akins Motorsports. Bill Elliott annouced he will do  part-time and Kasey will drive the #9 Dodge. Kahne was shocking , finishing 2nd 6 times with no wins. Rusty Wallace went back to Victory Lane at Martinsville , Newman won a couple and #19 driver Jeremy Mayfeild enterd the chase after winning at Richmond, moving him from 14th to 9th in standings. Bill Elliott ran the #91 ( or #98 ) Dodge in 7 events in 2004, with sponsors like Visteon , McD's , Lukeimia Foundation and Coca-Cola C2. 2005 was the break-though year for Dodge, with Rusty Wallace retiring , Kasey succeding and Gannassi re-living , it was BIG. Rusty Wallace announced he will retire after the 2005 season, but who will fill in? The answer - 2004 Champ Kurt Busch! Marlin announced he was leaving dodge alongwith Jamie McMurray after 2005. Kasey Kahne won 1 event in 2005 , Richmond. Newman won New Hampshire, Mayfeild won at Michigan, 3 wins but a huge year. At Texas Gannassi finished 2nd, 3rd, and 5th. And Casey Mears caught strong late in the season with 3 top 10's.Both Penske cars made the Chase along with Mayfeild. Bill Davis Racing lost Dodge support. Bill Elliott ran 10 races in 2005 , with McDonalds , Visteion , Auto Value and Stanley. 2006 was brighter , with Kurt Busch wining at Bristol , and Kasey Kahne winning a great 6 races and making the chase. Elliott Sadler left Ford and kicked Mayfeild out of the car. David Stremme and Reed Sorenson replaced McMurray who went to the #26/97 Irwin ride , and Marlin who went to the #14 WM/ Ginn ride.Casey Mears alsofinished 2nd at the Daytona 500. Will 2007 bring Dodge a Championchip?
Posted: 1/2/2007 12:19:00 AM
Comments:
A few comments.

Marlin, not Elliott, was the highest finishing Dodge driver in points in '01, as he finished third.
Newman won 8 races in 2003, not 9...the last driver to win 9 or more races in a season was Jeff Gordon in '98.
Kahne finished 2nd five times in '04, not six; however, he did earn a sixth 2nd place finish at Martinsville in '05 before he finally won.
Sadler didn't kick Mayfield out of the car.  Mayfield was fired, and Evernham HIRED Sadler.
Dodge has no chance of winning a 2007 title.  They have only one particularly notable driver (Kurt Busch) and one particularly notable team (#9).  If you put Kurt Busch in the #9, they might have a chance.  Kahne and Newman are probably the 2nd and 3rd best drivers for Dodge, respectively, but neither has shown enough consistency to win a title.
Posted On: 1/2/2007 12:19:00 AM

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