The short timeline accelerating Dodge's NASCAR return

Dodge’s decision to push for a Cup Series return next season has created a hectic timeline for both the manufacturer and NASCAR in making it happen.

“Generally, it’s like July of the year before when we’ve got to be in the wind tunnel, and they’ve got to be in the wind tunnel having a rough direction on where they’re going,” NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development John Probst said on Monday night. “But it does take a fair bit of time. I would say the normal stretch would probably average, historically, in the 18-month range for an OEM as far as going through all the milestones as they’re laid out.”

The manufacturer returned to the sport this season in the Craftsman Truck Series with five entries at Kaulig Racing. But from day one, Tim Kuniskis, head of Stellantis North America, made it clear they weren’t here for anything less than getting back to the Cup Series. And then very quickly it became about doing so sooner rather than later, even though a longer runway made more sense.

Dodge first had to submit to kick off the process. As Probst noted, historically that starts almost two years before it is intended to race. Some of the other steps include CFD and wind tunnel testing before moving on to panel design, production, and making sure those fit within the rules.

“I believe in this case, we are largely on that path,” continued Probst. “I think we’ve done it a little more abbreviated because there was a notice of submission of a Dodge and then it went quiet, and then it picked up a lot of steam very quick. So we were able to combine a lot of the milestones, but it’s still a year-plus process to get through the whole thing.

“This one came right up against it.”

Dodge's Cup return was in the works while Ram was preparing to enter to Truck series. Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

NASCAR was also talking with Dodge about returning to the Cup Series while the manufacturer readied its Truck Series program. There were starts and stops along the way, but at times, the two programs were likely running concurrently.  

Probst acknowledged that there are no body panels right now, as that process is still ongoing. NASCAR expects to have those within the next few weeks. However, Dodge has been approved and is eligible for upcoming Wheel Force and Goodyear tests once they have a Dodge body.

The body panels process is key. NASCAR can approve a design and be comfortable with what it sees in the wind tunnel, but it gets tricky when it moves from prototype to real life. Probst explained that the exoskeleton might be correct, but mounting the body panels might end up being different on the actual race car.

When the body panels go into production, they go back to the wind tunnel with those actual parts to make sure they perform as expected and within guidelines. NASCAR has not yet been able to do that with Dodge, although Probst called it largely a formality.

“Like I said, we’ll have those production panels in, I think, a little under two weeks,” said Probst. “So, we’ll be done with our season; they’re certainly not going to have a ton of time to prep cars and get ready for the Clash, but this was done about as fast as we can do it once they decided to go.”

Kaulig Racing will announce the Dodge driver lineup this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dodge will unveil the 2027 race car in early December.