Foreign Cars Belong in NASCAR

The 2013 Dodge Charger

Today we have learned that Dodge will not return to NASCAR in 2013. This is a huge blow to NASCAR.

With perhaps the best looking 2013 car, the Dodge Charger looked like it was ready to make new gains, bringing back the excitement from 2004 when they reentered the sport after being away since the 1970’s.

They completed the construction of the new car, presented it, and believed they would be racing next year. It also helps when Penske driver Brad Keselowski is winning races. While all seems fortunate, it is all to no avail.

The demise of Dodge started months ago when its lone team, Penske Racing, deciding to part ways.

When Penske announced earlier this year that they were switching to Ford next season who knew it would be the downfall of Dodge in the sport.

Richard Petty Motorsports was highly rumored to be making the switch to Dodge as Dodge representatives frantically tried to find a team that would partner with them. Like the nicest looking 2013 car, this deal “done blowed up.”

With the departure of Dodge next season NASCAR will only have three car manufacturers participating: Chevy, Ford, and Toyota. The question is, what does NASCAR need to do?

The answer, allow foreign manufactures to enter the sport.

When NASCAR allowed Toyota to come into the Camping World Truck Series in 2004, it was the first time a foreign manufacturer had been in the sport in decades. People didn’t like it, but they dealt with it. Later in 2007, Toyota entered the Sprint Cup Series, bringing in a new wave of technology. People truly didn’t like this and a lot of fans and teams voiced their displeasure.

NASCAR is labeled as an “American sport.” There’s nothing more American than another country making Chevys and Fords and us watching them race….right?

People ripped NASCAR for allowing Toyota, a foreign owned company to enter the sport. After realizing Toyotas were actually made in the United States fans became more understanding. Teams complained about the technology and money that Toyota would throw out to be successful in NASCAR. How did that work out? What kind of a car does Jimmie Johnson drive?

 The goal of car manufacturers in NASCAR is to get fans to cling to a driver and a car make as a way to advertise. While this may be true, Americans don’t only drive Chevys, Fords, and Toyotas.

The departure of Dodge is a bad omen for the sport. In a tough economy, even billion dollar car companies are cutting back on things like racing. With only 3 manufactures racing in NASCAR next year, why not open the door to other brands.

When we ride down the road, what do we see, different cars. Just because Jimmie Johnson drives a Chevy doesn’t mean I have to go by one. I might, which would be the power of the car make in the sport, but what if I wanted a Volkswagen or a Honda. I love multiple options.

What if NASCAR had these? It would be a blast to the past.

Prior to the 1960’s NASCAR had several foreign manufactures that were allowed to race. Why wouldn’t we want these brands in NASCAR today? They could bring in jobs, foreign markets, new technologies, and more fans.

After all, look around you or on your shirt tag. How many of the things around you are truly made in America?

NASCAR shouldn’t be different.

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