“As we have previously stated, we remain committed to our Dodge factory-backed teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” Accavitti said, “During our Chapter 11 reorganisation, Chrysler has strictly followed each and every step of the court-supervised process according to bankruptcy law. Interruption to the normal course of business, including supplier payments, is inherent during this process.”

Clearly, Petty and Chrysler want the same thing. One of RPM's drivers, Kasey Kahne, used the new Dodge R06 engine at Dover, qualified a season-best second and finished sixth. Petty expects to phase in the new engine with his other drivers - AJ Allmendinger, Reed Sorenson and Elliott Sadler - based on an evaluation of its performance with Kahne over the next few weeks. All three Penske teams already have incorporated the R06.

“What we've got to figure is 'where is Chrysler going to go? Where are we going to be next year?',” Petty said, “So we've got to start planning right how for how we come out in February at Daytona. All those things are relative to each other, I guess, as far as whatever we've got to do to make it better than what it is. We're still not giving up on this season, by any means. With the new engine deals, we're going to really, really work hard this year to get us in a better position as far as next year."

On Monday morning, General Motors filed for bankruptcy under a government-backed reorganisation plan.

by Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service