What's the deal at Dodge?

  
By Mike Mulhern
mikemulhern.net

  
   Chrysler's NASCAR-Dodge division appears in such turmoil at the moment, with the company's own future in some doubt, that the future for stock car racing's remaining Dodge teams -- principally the Roger Penske and George Gillett operations -- is in serious question.
   Gillett has absorbed whatever remains of Petty Enterprises, in one of the off-season's strangest, perhaps saddest, stories. Ray Evernham, who found the company Gillett now controls, is all but out of the NASCAR picture entirely, except for promotional efforts for the sport, such as his appearance in Nashville a few days ago.
   Chip Ganassi has merged the remnants of his once large company with Chevrolet's Teresa Earnhardt.
   And Robby Gordon, whose one season under the Dodge banner was rather fitful, has now jumped over to the Toyota camp.

Ray Evernham, once Dodge's lead man in NASCAR, is now on the sidelines (Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR)