There was a lot of chatter at the start of this year surrounding Honda’s entry into NASCAR, joining as the sports’ new OEM partner. However, since then those chatters have disappeared, and it looks like NASCAR will continue its three-horse race.

Dodge has been one of the traditional car manufacturers in NASCAR since its inception. So apart from the Japanese manufacturer, they were also linked with a reunion back on the ovals. Although nothing materialized from those rumors, Dodge seemed to have found a new home at Nitrocross.

Unlike NASCAR, Nitrocross didn’t have the support of a car maker. Therefore, Dodge’s entry marks a historic step that could allow other OEM partners to follow suit. They will partner with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team and field four race cars for the upcoming season that starts this weekend at Richmond Raceway.

One of the big changes Dodge will have to undergo is adapting to the EV engines competing in Group E. According to a Sports Business Journal report, the two parties have been in talks for the last 18 months. And the talks intensified in the last four months. This decision by Dodge was taken in light of the trends and the attraction of the younger age group audience towards Nitrocross Series.

“Nearly 75 percent of Nitrocross race fans are between the ages of 18 and 34, making the series the perfect venue for Dodge to expand its motorsports presence and to showcase the Dodge Hornet to a youthful, enthusiastic new audience,”  the brand’s CEO, Matt McAlear, said in a press release.

However, NASCAR fans on the other side of the spectrum weren’t too thrilled about this move. And for a moment assumed, Dodge was finally making its comeback to the premier stock car racing series.

Dodge forging a new partnership with Nitrocross caught NASCAR fans by surprise

The American manufacturer was one of the premier car makers to join the stock car racing series in 1953. Interestingly, legendary driver Richard Petty won his first two championships in a Doge machine, back in 1974-75. However, General Motors with its Chevy started dominating the proceedings, which eventually saw Dodge lose its grip. Therefore, to see them join a different racing series was crushing for this fan. “Thought this was dodge to nascar i would have cried tears of joy.”

Dodge has been in and out of the NASCAR circuits. Despite clinching a championship with Richard Petty, the company decided to take the exit door in 1977. But they were back to NASCAR racing in 2001. Brad Keselowski with Team Penske saw Dodge reign supreme in 2012. It also turned out to be the last appearance as they shut their shops down after that year. Given this cycle, fans were hopeful that they would return someday again, but a Nitrcoss partnership was like a dagger to their hearts. “God damnit Adam I thought Dodge was coming back to NASCAR 😩.”

This didn’t stop some of the optimistic fans from looking for positives in such times. Dana White did spill the beans about working behind the scenes with NASCAR to develop an EV race series. Nitrocross has all the resources in place, and this Dodge partnership could open the door for a reunion, according to this fan. “But they can’t field a Cup Car. Maybe this is the start to a comeback.”

After their NASCAR project, Dodge have invested heavily in the NHRA drag racing series. In fact, Tony Stewart, who has taken up drag racing in a full-time role, pilots the TSR Dodge/SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. And they have now made their entry into yet another racing series, ditching NASCAR. Frustrated to see them making these moves, an X user added, “Dodge finally joined a motorsport series again?”

It’s fair to say NASCAR fans haven’t been open to the idea of a switch to EV or hybrid race cars. Stellantis has its sister brands like DS and Maserati representing their interests in Formula E. Dodge also falls under the Stellantis sub-brand, and therefore this move in EV auto-racing made sense. While most of the fans were concerned about NASCAR not being able to attract its old partners, a bunch of them threw shade at Stellantis EV cars. “Nobody wants Stellantis products, the hornet has been a complete disaster of a car.”

What are your thoughts on Dodge expanding its racing presence in Nitrocross over NASCAR?