Race Teams Getting On The Same Page

There are several reasons why multicar teams succeed or fail, and the effort is examined in this unusually sharp take with focus on the loss of control by Daimler-Chrysler of its NASCAR program. To make a long story short (I admit such is not necessarily wise), the teams of Dodge and the Dodge factory effort in general is not on the same page.

Of course with organizations like Penske Racing and Ganassi Racing, that may not be such a surprise, especially given suspicion of their ultimate loyalty to Dodge. One certainly should not feel it a mere coincidence that since Dodge got Roger Penske's NASCAR team into its fold, Penske South has been almost the only Dodge team to win races. From 2003 onward there have been sixteen wins by Dodges in Nextel Cup, and twelve of these have been by Penske Racing (eleven by Ryan Newman, one by Rusty Wallace); Ray Evernham Motorsports accounts for the other four wins.

The most revealing aspect of the Penske effort has been the drop in strength since NASCAR's ill-advised switch to lower downforce and softer tires after 2003 - a switch brought on by very public lobbying by Rusty Wallace, who was driven in very large part by near-endless squabbling with Newman. Newman has won just three races since the end of 2003, and right now appears ever farther away from recovering any kind of momentum.

Of the Dodge teams, Petty Enterprises, still looking form its first win with the Dodge program after five very frustrating seasons, may be in the best shape as far as drivers on the same page, given the similarities in driving styles between Bobby Labonte and Kyle Petty. Evernham Motorsports may be in the best overall shape among Dodge teams, but has continuing questions to ask itself about the viability of Jeremy Mayfield. Ganassi and Penske remain as they've been the last couple of seasons - among the wealthiest raceteams in NASCAR and yet still struggling to get on the same page.