Why Dodge Is Not in NASCAR

Dodge is not banned from NASCAR; it is simply not participating. After withdrawing its factory program following the 2012 season, the automaker has not re-entered under current rules, which remain open to any manufacturer that completes NASCAR’s approval process. As of the 2025 season, the Cup Series fields cars from Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, with no active Dodge program.

There Is No Ban on Dodge

NASCAR does not prohibit Dodge from competing. Any original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can join if it meets technical, safety, and participation requirements. The “not allowed” notion stems from Dodge’s voluntary exit, not from any rule excluding the brand.

To clarify what “being allowed” entails, here are the typical elements NASCAR expects from a prospective OEM.

• Homologation of a Cup Series body that meets NASCAR’s aerodynamic and safety standards for the current Next Gen platform.
• An approved, compliant 358-cubic-inch, naturally aspirated pushrod V8 engine program with reliable supply and support for teams.
• Technical partnerships and multi-team support (chassis setup, aero development, and parts logistics) to be competitive across the schedule.
• Financial commitment for factory backing, including engineering resources and contingency funding.
• Successful completion of NASCAR’s testing and approval processes, including wind tunnel, durability, and on-track validation.

These requirements are demanding but standard; they ensure any new or returning OEM can compete safely and credibly from day one.

Why Dodge Withdrew After 2012

Dodge’s departure was driven by business and competitive realities, not eligibility. The brand returned to NASCAR in 2001 and reached the pinnacle with Brad Keselowski’s 2012 Cup championship for Team Penske. But with Penske’s decision to switch to Ford for 2013—and no equivalent “anchor” team secured—Dodge’s factory program was paused.

The key factors behind the exit were widely reported at the time and centered on resources and alignment.

• Loss of a top-tier partner: Team Penske’s switch to Ford for 2013 left Dodge without a championship-caliber organization.
• Cost-to-competitiveness equation: Standing up a new engine program, expanding support, and recruiting elite teams required substantial investment.
• Model transition timing: NASCAR was moving into a new generation of car, demanding fresh homologation work and added development expense.
• Corporate priorities: Post-recession restructuring and shifting motorsports strategies within what is now Stellantis made an immediate continuation impractical.

In short, without a flagship team and with major new spending required to stay competitive, Dodge chose to step back.

What a Dodge Return Would Require

For Dodge (Stellantis) to rejoin, the company would need to build a full technical and team ecosystem that meets modern Cup standards. The Next Gen era has centralized some parts but hasn’t reduced the need for OEM-level engineering and sustained investment.

• Secure an anchor team (or teams) willing to switch manufacturers, ideally with multi-car depth and championship pedigree.
• Reestablish a NASCAR-specific engine program with robust dyno, durability, and track support capabilities.
• Design and homologate a Next Gen-compliant body (styling typically aligned to a current showroom model) that passes NASCAR’s aero and safety tests.
• Commit multi-year funding for R&D, simulation, personnel, and on-track development to close the performance gap quickly.
• Build supply chains for parts and technical updates so customer teams can maintain parity throughout the season.

These steps are feasible but require long lead times and significant capital—factors that have likely kept a Dodge comeback on hold despite periodic interest.

Has a Return Been Discussed?

NASCAR leadership has repeatedly said it wants a fourth OEM and has held conversations with multiple manufacturers in recent years. Dodge has been among the names most frequently rumored, including chatter around potential alliances that ultimately did not materialize. As of the 2025 season, no formal Dodge program or timeline has been announced.

The Next Gen Context

Introduced in 2022, NASCAR’s Next Gen car uses a common chassis, independent rear suspension, a transaxle, and single-source components to control costs. Even so, OEMs still must invest heavily in body aero development and engine programs. The Cup Series continues to run 358-cubic-inch, naturally aspirated V8s with electronic fuel injection, targeting roughly 670 horsepower at most tracks and a reduced output package at drafting venues. While NASCAR has explored future electrification demonstrations, no hybrid system is in place in the Cup Series as of 2025—meaning a Dodge return would hinge on a conventional V8 effort for now.

Bottom Line

Dodge is not “not allowed” in NASCAR—it’s simply not competing. The brand stepped away after 2012 for strategic and economic reasons and has not yet re-launched the substantial program required to re-enter in the Next Gen era. NASCAR remains open to additional manufacturers; the ball is in Dodge’s court.

Summary

Dodge’s absence is a business decision, not a ban. After winning the 2012 Cup title, the automaker withdrew when it lost its top team and faced major new investment to stay competitive. NASCAR would welcome Dodge back if it completes the standard OEM approval process, including body homologation, engine approval, and multi-team support. As of the 2025 season, no Dodge return has been announced.

Why was Hemi banned from NASCAR?

NASCAR banned the 426 Hemi in 1965 not due to a defect, but because it was too dominant and gave Chrysler an unfair advantage, leading to a perceived lack of competitive balance. Other manufacturers, like Ford, complained about the Hemi’s superior performance, which was so overwhelming that it began to bore fans. The ban, officially citing homologation issues with the Hemi’s production availability and its nature as a purpose-built racing engine, aimed to restore excitement and variety to NASCAR races, as the Hemi’s success was making outcomes predictable.
 
Reasons for the Hemi Ban

• Dominant Performance: The 426 Hemi was incredibly powerful, winning a significant portion of races in 1964 and leading to complaints from other manufacturers about unfair competition. 
• Lack of Production Availability: The official reason for the ban was that Chrysler had not yet made the Hemi available in a street-legal production car, making its racing use a violation of NASCAR’s homologation rules. 
• Boredom: The Hemi’s overwhelming success led to predictable race outcomes, which NASCAR felt was causing fan interest to wane. 
• Competitive Balance: NASCAR’s goal was to maintain a balance of power and encourage innovation from various manufacturers, not to let one dominate the sport. 
• Manufacturer Pressure: Ford, in particular, argued that the Hemi was a specialized racing engine, not a production car engine, and pressured NASCAR to take action. 

Impact of the Ban

• Chrysler responded to the ban by withdrawing its factory-backed teams from NASCAR for the 1965 season. 
• The ban also targeted other high-performance engines, such as Ford’s SOHC 427 engine, creating a broader shift in the types of engines allowed in the sport. 
• Ultimately, the ban on the Hemi was lifted by late summer of 1965, but the incident highlighted the complex political landscape and ongoing manufacturer battles that shaped NASCAR’s rules. 

Will Dodge ever get back into NASCAR?

Yes, Dodge, through its parent brand Ram, is returning to NASCAR in 2026 to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series. Following their entry into the Truck Series, the parent company, Stellantis, intends to bring the Dodge brand back to the top-level NASCAR Cup Series in the near future, potentially as soon as 2027. 
What to expect:

• 2026: Opens in new tabRam will enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with a dedicated marketing effort and will aim to be a significant presence in the series, potentially fielding four to six trucks at the season opener in Daytona. 
• Future Cup Series entry: Opens in new tabThe Ram brand’s return to the Truck Series is considered the first step towards Dodge’s eventual return to the Cup Series. Stellantis CEO Tim Kuniskis has expressed the goal of moving to Cup racing a year after the Truck Series launch, though a more realistic two-year timeline is also considered. 
• Developing a new vehicle: Opens in new tabTo re-enter the Cup Series, Dodge would need significant engine development and a new body design for its vehicle. 
• Marketing and partnerships: Opens in new tabThe comeback is also focused on reaching a key demographic, as a large percentage of NASCAR fans drive trucks, making it an ideal marketing opportunity for the Ram brand. Partnerships with teams and influencers like social media personality Cletus McFarland are also being explored. 

Why doesn’t NASCAR use Dodge anymore?

Dodge left because of declining team interest. Interest declined due to the level of factory support an economically-troubled, #3-domestically manufacturer could no longer justify spending on a sport whose popularity was also declining. Just hold your hat down for the next part.

Why is Dodge banned in NASCAR?

Dodge left NASCAR in late 2012 primarily because their sole factory-backed team, Penske Racing, defected to Ford after a disagreement over contract terms, leaving Dodge with a brand-new competitive car but no other major teams to race it. This departure was compounded by Chrysler’s financial struggles during the global economic crisis, which strained resources and led to a broader strategic reassessment of motorsports involvement. The company ultimately decided it couldn’t find a suitable team to maintain a competitive presence in NASCAR at the required level.
 
Key Reasons for the Departure

• Penske Racing’s Defection: The biggest factor was the departure of Penske Racing, their primary partner, for Ford at the end of the 2012 season. This left Dodge without their flagship team and significantly weakened their NASCAR program. 
• Financial Hardship: The global financial crisis and Chrysler’s subsequent bankruptcy strained Dodge’s ability to fund its motorsports efforts, making it difficult to support a competitive NASCAR program. 
• Lack of a Viable Structure: With Penske gone, Dodge was unable to secure other top-tier teams to fill the void. They had just introduced a new competitive car for the 2013 season, but they lacked a stable team structure to compete effectively with it. 
• Strategic Realignment: Dodge and its parent company, Fiat, were reassessing their overall motorsports strategy, which included investing more heavily in Italian-branded motorsports, potentially diverting resources from NASCAR. 

What Happened Next

• Dodge did not return to NASCAR at the highest level after 2012, despite discussions and the introduction of new cars like the Charger. 
• There has been ongoing speculation about a potential return, with NASCAR officials and sports media noting continued discussions, but no concrete plans have materialized yet.