Dodge back in Winston Cup

Gil Kaminer

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999 | 4:40 a.m.

NEW YORK - Dodge will return to Winston Cup racing in 2001 after an absence of 16 seasons, with top NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham set as its flagship car owner.

DaimlerChrysler, the parent company of Dodge, announced today that Evernham's team would receive full factory support.

Evernham, who resigned last month after guiding Jeff Gordon to three championships in six seasons, says he will have a two-car operation in 2001.

"My goal is to get to Victory Lane and take the Dodge people with me," Evernham said, standing near a sign that read 493 - the number of days until the season-opening 2001 Daytona 500.

Evernham said part of his job will be to help develop other Dodge teams as they come along. NASCAR is hoping their will be several.

"Dodge's return will increase competition, and certainly make it deeper," said Mike Helton, senior vice president for the sanctioning body.

The Intrepid models Evernham will field will be the first Chrysler products in NASCAR's top division since Sept. 15, 1985, when Maurice Randall finished last in one of two Chryslers entered in the Delaware 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway.

The last Dodge in a Winston Cup race finished 30th with Phil Good behind the wheel on June 9, 1985 at Pocono International Raceway.

Chrysler had a tradition of victory in NASCAR. Petty Enterprises, its most prolific winner ever, had 237 of its 271 victories in Chrysler brands.

Richard Petty himself had 175 of his record 200 career victories and six of his series-best seven championships in Plymouths and Dodges.

But the auto maker withdrew tech and parts support in the late '70s. Petty went winless in 1978, and jumped to General Motors the next year, leaving the few remaining Chryslers cars in the hands of underfunded independents.

The late Neil Bonnett accounted for the last Dodge victory, in the Los Angeles Times 500 on Nov. 20, 1977.

Chrysler began its comeback in the sport when Dodges were campaigned in the NASCAR truck series in 1995. Since factory backing began in 1997, Dodges they have won seven races.

Evernham, who called the shots for the first 47 of Gordon's 49 career victories, did not make any announcement concerning drivers or other personnel for his team.