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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