Dodge Nears Blockbuster NASCAR Cup Series Return in 2027 After 14-Year Absence

Fourteen years after leaving NASCAR’s premier division with a championship, Dodge could be on its way back to the Cup Series. And this time, the manufacturer may have found an unexpected partner to make it happen.Dodge is nearing an agreement to return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, according to a Tuesday, Oct. 13, report from The Athletic. Although negotiations remain ongoing, the manufacturer is reportedly targeting next February’s Daytona 500 for its comeback.If finalized, the deal would bring a fourth manufacturer to the Cup Series grid alongside Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota for the first time since Dodge departed following the 2012 season.But the biggest surprise might be how Dodge plans to get there.Rather than developing an engine program entirely from scratch, Dodge is reportedly working toward an arrangement with ECR Engines, the Richard Childress Racing-owned operation that currently builds engines for Chevrolet teams.It’s an unusual partnership, particularly considering RCR’s longstanding relationship with Chevrolet. But it could also be the solution that allows Dodge to return years earlier than initially expected.Dodge’s NASCAR Return Could Bring an Unexpected Richard Childress Racing PartnershipAccording to The Athletic, Dodge initially faced a significant obstacle in its comeback plans: finding a way to supply competitive engines for an entire Cup Series season.Developing a new engine program typically takes years, making a 2027 return difficult to accomplish without outside help.ECR Engines now appears positioned to provide that help.Under the proposed arrangement, ECR would build engines for both Dodge and Chevrolet. Importantly, Richard Childress Racing would not be leaving Chevrolet, and the Dodge engines would need to have distinct technical differences rather than simply being rebadged Chevrolet powerplants.The arrangement reportedly required cooperation from NASCAR and its three existing manufacturers.Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have agreed to the terms, according to the report, with the understanding that Dodge would eventually pursue a separate engine supplier.The willingness to accommodate a new competitor speaks to the potential significance of Dodge’s return.Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook recently welcomed the possibility.“It’s a good thing for the sport to have more manufacturers into it,” Rushbrook told The Athletic.“We want to compete against the best manufacturers in the world and to have more of that OEM (original equipment manufacturer) rivalry on track.”Kaulig Racing Expected to Lead Dodge’s NASCAR Cup Series ComebackDodge’s return would also create a new chapter for Kaulig Racing.The organization, already preparing to field five Ram-supported entries in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is expected to serve as Dodge’s Cup Series partner.That connection would give Dodge an existing NASCAR operation rather than requiring the manufacturer to establish a Cup Series team from the ground up.It also fits NASCAR’s reported preference for new manufacturers to partner with current charter holders instead of expanding the number of Cup Series charters beyond 36.There is still work to be done before Dodge can officially take its place on the grid. The Athletic reports that negotiations have not been finalized, although parent company Stellantis has begun preparing for a potential announcement.For longtime NASCAR fans, the possibility carries considerable history.Dodge last competed in the Cup Series in 2012, when Brad Keselowski delivered the championship for Team Penske in a Dodge Charger.It was a remarkable way for the manufacturer to leave the sport, but few would have expected its absence to last more than a decade.Now, Dodge could be preparing to return to the same stage where it celebrated its last championship.And if the remaining pieces fall into place, the 2027 Daytona 500 could mark the beginning of an entirely new manufacturer battle in NASCAR.