Dodge calls RPM defection a 'business decision'

The head of Dodge Motorsports on Friday called Richard Petty's defection a "business decision" that won't affect the manufacturer's participation in NASCAR.

Richard Petty Motorsports has signed a letter-of-intent to merge with Yates Racing and field a four-car Ford team next season. It leaves Dodge with just three Roger Penske-owned cars in its 2010 lineup.

But president and CEO Mike Accavitti said that's enough for Dodge, which has had to continuously reinforce its commitment to NASCAR because of the cash problems that forced parent-company Chrysler into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization earlier this year.

"Dodge's plan — to be a championship contender in 2010 with Penske Racing and a solid lineup of drivers — has not changed," Accavitti said. "We remain firmly focused on our objectives to be the leading manufacturer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, win races and compete for the Sprint Cup at the right level."

RPM, the team born in a January merger between Petty Enterprises and Gillett-Evernham Racing, has been shopping for a new manufacturer since its funding from Dodge slowed earlier this season. The cutbacks during its restructuring forced RPM into at least two rounds of layoffs and payroll adjustments, all while trying to get star driver Kasey Kahne into the Chase for the championship.

Kahne is in position to grab one of the 12 berths, using a win last weekend at Atlanta to move up to sixth in the standings headed into Saturday night's deciding race at Richmond International Raceway. But the impending move to Ford has him wondering about the level of Dodge support he'll receive during the critical 10-race title hunt.

"I thought about it," he admitted. "But I can't really be concerned. I'm just going to go on with my business, and hopefully it won't affect us."

Dodge TriCharger by Force Performance

Force Performance answered the question no one asked: what would a two-door Dodge Charger look like? Despite this, the TriCharger does offer several useful modifications.

Dodge adding supercharger to 2009 Challenger

November's SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show will play host to Chrysler's unveiling of a supercharger it plans to fit to the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Available through dealers as a Mopar aftermarket kit, the supercharger will boost power and torque with little additional weight or fuel economy penalty.

The Challenger that will house the first example of the Mopar supercharger will also get a full range of bolt-on upgrades, as befits any SEMA show car. A cold-air intake, improved exhaust and new wheels will be part of the package, reports Edmunds InsideLine. The additional power provided by the supercharger or other modifications hasn't yet been revealed.

A supercharger for the Challenger SRT8 has already been built by Speedfactory. The company says the kit will take the standard Hemi's power from 425hp (317kW) to 630hp (470kW). That output brings the Challenger's 6.1L V8 power figures in line with the Corvette ZR-1's 6.2L supercharged V8,

Get $9000 off on Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep?

Automotive News announced today that you can get $9000 off a Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep. Really? According to their daily broadcast, Automotive News Today, beginning this Thursday, July 23, 2009, you can visit any Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep dealership and get a total of $9000 off of certain models. The program runs through August, or is supposed to anyway; at least until the Auto Czar puts a stop to it!

Perhaps corporate Chrysler minds like Lee Iacocca have finally emerged with an idea that may be impressive. Chrysler plans to utilize the Cash for Guzzlers discount of $4500 and add an additional $4500 to qualified vehicles to get car buyers to that $9000.

Be prepared before you shop. Remember that many dealers have problems with the government vouchers because they need the $4500 right away to pay Chrysler. Unless Chrysler plans to extend the time they need to pay the vehicle off. That probably won't happen since most Chrysler dealers don't have their floorplan (what they owe on cars) with Chrysler. Most are with GMAC now. Do you think GMAC will wait on the government? Good luck on that one.

The Cash for Guzzlers program has a few flaws. The junker you think might qualify that has been sitting in your yard for a few years and doesn't run does not qualify. Unless of course you have been smart enough to have that guzzler insured and registered for at least one year. Who has the extra cash to register a car that doesn't start? This was the Auto Czar's idea huh?

While the Auto Czar Obama and his auto task force wannabes keep coming up with ideas that won't work, I think matching their program is a good effort by Chrysler. Kudos to them. The best part was that they were'nt forced to do it, they just did it, the old fashioned way. As Lee Iacocca might have said, according to Automotive News Today, "If you can find a better incentive, take it!"

Keep in mind that you will most likely have to pick from the Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep dealer's inventory and this rebate money won't apply to dealer trades or ordered units. But it's all good folks, except for the dealers who have to wait for the $4500 from the Auto Czar and his flock. It's also not great if you weren't smart enough to keep that old junker registered AND insured. But who cares right? It's a good thing!

On to GM. The Auto Czar's flunkies have said that terminated GM dealers can have first pick of a franchise in their area if GM builds a new store there. What? Why would they put in another franchise after they closed one down in the same area? Is the Auto Czar awake people? This one boggles the mind. I can see it now; Joe GM-Dealer has to close his Cadillac store in Apple, Texas, but he will get first choice if GM wants to put a new franchise in Apple, Texas. I ponder, what was the point of closing down the Cadillac store in Apple, Texas to begin with?

Ask the Auto Czar! Sounds like a good quiz show. Too bad nobody that is knowledgeable about the auto industry will be able to appear on it.

For now, drag in your guzzlers (if they are licensed and insured) and get $9000 off a Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep! At least for now anyway. At least until the Auto Czar tells Chrysler, "shame on you!" Most likely angry that he didn't think of it himself.