Dodge Dominates at Daytona - Even Before the Race Begins
18 Février 2005 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Dodge Dominates at Daytona - Even Before the Race Begins -
Legendary Dodge Charger makes anticipated return to NASCAR Cup
Series Racing at Daytona International Speedway - Race fans and
muscle-car enthusiasts get first look at Dodge Charger, Dodge
Charger Daytona R/T, Dodge Ram Daytona vehicles - Dodge City
delivers off-track excitement, driver appearances, display of Dodge
DNA for race-bound fans DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dodge is leveraging one of the
most-watched sporting events of the year -- the Daytona 500 -- to
herald the return of the legendary Dodge Charger to American
roadways and racetracks nationwide and celebrate the launch of the
several new Dodge vehicles. "Throughout Dodge's involvement in
modern-era NASCAR competition, its vehicles have dominated at
Daytona," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President - Dodge Marketing,
Chrysler Group. "From the time that Dodge painted the city of
Daytona Beach red to lead its return to NASCAR Cup Series racing in
2001, Dodge has generated tremendous excitement for race fans. This
year we're adding to that excitement with the introduction of the
new Dodge Charger and, hopefully, another visit to Victory Lane at
the Daytona International Speedway." Dodge Charger Gears Up for
2005 NASCAR Debut After almost 30 years, the legendary Dodge
Charger race car will roar again in NASCAR competition. Just one
day after the Dodge Charger passenger vehicle was revealed at the
North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in a NASCAR-themed
press event in Detroit, legendary Dodge Charger driver Richard
Petty and one of the top Dodge drivers of 2004, Jeremy Mayfield,
unveiled the new Dodge Charger race car at Daytona International
Speedway on January 11th. This Sunday, four Dodge factory-backed
teams, including 10 drivers, will drive Dodge Chargers in the 2005
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500. The original
Dodge Charger race car debuted during the 1966 Speedweeks at
Daytona International Speedway. Richard Petty earned the most
recent Dodge Charger victory in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 1974.
The Dodge Charger race car takes its cues from the production car,
with strong styling and powerful performance. The new 2006 Dodge
Charger passenger vehicle features a distinctive crosshair front
grille, bold rear fascia and signature rear side windows. The
modern rear-wheel-drive muscle car is expected to hit Dodge Dealer
showrooms this summer. Dodge Unveils New Dodge Charger Daytona R/T
In celebration of the Dodge Charger's return to NASCAR racing,
Dodge also introduced the new limited-production 2006 Charger
Daytona R/T model amidst the sounds of the speedway, cheers of the
fans and the roar of the legendary HEMI(R) engine. "The legendary
Dodge Charger nameplate returns on a modern, high- performance,
rear-wheel-drive vehicle that combines bold design with four-door
functionality," Jackson said. "To celebrate Dodge Charger's return
to NASCAR, we're introducing a limited-production Daytona R/T model
that offers a little slice of history with all the performance and
handling characteristics to satisfy modern muscle car enthusiasts."
The production vehicles, which are on display all week at Dodge
City, feature classic "Top Banana" yellow and "Go ManGo!" metallic
orange paint schemes. As a special introduction of both cars, Dodge
City will give fans to poll which classic color scheme should
appear next on the production vehicle, from famous 1970s colors
such as Tor-Red, Sub Lime and HEMI-Orange. Race fans got to see the
special high-impact color schemes on Dodge race cars during the Bud
Shootout on February 12, as Dodge Charger drivers Jeremy Mayfield
and Kasey Kahne piloted replica paint schemes on the No. 9 and No.
19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Chargers. Dodge Rams in Spotlight at
Daytona, Too ... Dodge Ram trucks also will share the spotlight at
Daytona as two new Viper-powered 2006 Dodge Ram SRT10 Quad Cabs
pace the field for the season- opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Dodge also will host a Dodge
Ram Daytona drive-away, as 75 brand-new special-edition 2006 Dodge
Ram Daytonas participate in the driver introduction parade laps for
the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday. Several Dodge
Dealers will participate, and drive the trucks from the racetrack
to their dealership showrooms that afternoon. Dodge City Thrills
Fans Outside the Race Track Visitors to Daytona Beach won't need
tickets to enjoy an exciting Dodge City lineup of featured events
and appearances by Dodge drivers, including Ryan Newman, Kasey
Kahne, Jeremy Mayfield, Kyle Petty, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Musgrave
and several others. "The action at Dodge City is almost as loud and
intense as it is across the street in the Daytona International
Speedway," Jackson said. "Dodge is all about powerful performance
on the street and on the track, and in Daytona Beach, we offer fans
the best of both worlds. Whether you want to cheer your favorite
Dodge Charger driver on to victory lane, or simulate a chance of
doing it yourself, we've got you covered." Headlining the many fan
activities at Dodge City are Dodge "Thrill Rides" powered by Dodge
Vipers, Ram SRT10s and the new Dodge Charger. Attendees will have
the chance to sit shotgun in each vehicle as Skip Barber
professional drivers turn hot laps on a closed handling course.
Professional drivers also will conduct Dodge Charger drifting
demonstrations and simulated chases for fans to see first-hand the
capabilities of the new vehicle. In addition to experiencing the
performance of today's Dodge vehicles, visitors also will have the
opportunity to relive the Dodge dominance of days past in a
Charger/HEMI "museum" that features classic HEMI engine displays,
historic photographs, models and original advertising elements.
HEMI enthusiasts should be sure to visit Dodge City February 18 to
19 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., as Dodge hosts "HEMI Heroes" -- a
moderated panel of former Dodge Charger drivers and owners
including Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and Cotton Owens. Fans will be
able to ask questions of the panel and participate in the
discussion of legendary HEMI performances. Attendance to Dodge City
is free and open to the public daily, Wednesday, Feb. 16 through
Sunday, Feb. 20. Dodge City is located directly across
International Speedway Boulevard from Daytona International
Speedway at the base of the pedestrian overpass. eBay Auction
Winner Receives First 2006 Production Dodge Charger In the midst of
Daytona Speedweeks, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger takes an early
victory lap winning $75,100 in an eBay charity auction. The auction
for the first volume production 2006 Dodge Charger to roll off the
assembly line and the replica race car body used in the Dodge
Charger world reveal closed Friday, Feb. 11. Proceeds from the
winning bid will be shared between Victory Junction Gang Camp and
the Salvation Army. The charity auction ran Feb. 1-11, attracting
56 bidders; 26,435 people visited the auction site. The winning
bidder of the auction also will receive a Charger Experience
package that includes airfare, accommodations and two tickets to
the Dodge Charger 500 race in Darlington, S.C., on May 7 to receive
their Dodge Charger keys from NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Dodge
Chargers Get Interactive Online Finally, for those who are enjoying
Speedweeks from the comfort of their own homes,
http://www.dodge.com/ is hosting an experiential module featuring
the Charger Daytona R/T model online. Web surfers will also find
enhanced Charger Daytona R/T model content on the special "World of
Dodge" homepage hosted on http://www.nascar.com/ that gives fans an
exclusive in-depth view of the Dodge DNA that goes into the new
vehicle. DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT: Daniel Bodene of
Chrysler Group, +1-248-512-2920; or Debby Robinson of ClearBlue!,
+1-312-505-4336 Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/ http://www.nascar.com/
http://www.dodge.com/
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