| With fourteen races already in the books in the | | | | are also exerting effort on improving their |
| 2007 Nextel Cup Series, Chevrolet cars are still | | | | performance of the Car of Tomorrow which is |
| dominating the field with thirteen wins. The only | | | | also known as the COT. "At the same time, we're |
| other car to finish at this year's Nextel Cup is | | | | trying to figure out the COT, so that's really what |
| Matt Kenseth's Number 17 Ford at the Auto Club | | | | kind of got us behind the 8 ball. We feel like we're |
| 500, the second race of the season. From that | | | | really picking up some steam now in our |
| race through the Ponoco 500 held at the Pocono | | | | performance, average finish performance is |
| Raceway, the Chevrolet Impalas have won every | | | | showing it," he said. |
| race. | | | | One of the most promising young drivers this |
| The Dodge Avenger NASCAR car though is | | | | season driving a Dodge is Kasey Kahne. The 2004 |
| making a challenge to the domination of Chevrolet | | | | NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year has not |
| with back-to-back second place for Ryan | | | | finished in the top ten since the first race of the |
| Newman who is driving the Number 12 Dodge | | | | season. Normally, it would cause for concern for |
| Avenger. | | | | Dodge. Accavitti though is confident that Kahne |
| At the Pocono 500, the Dodge cars fielded for | | | | has what it takes to perform well for the |
| this year's Nextel Cup Series has been fitted with | | | | remainder of the season. "Kasey is the real deal. |
| new noses in the hope that the change will give | | | | We have the utmost faith in Kasey and the |
| Dodge its first win of the season. Unfortunately | | | | Evernham Motorsports Organization. They're a |
| though, critics pointed out that the new nose | | | | class act team, and they're going to do what they |
| installed may have cost Dodge a win at the race. | | | | need to do to get Kasey back in victory lane," |
| Mike Accavitti, the Director of the Dodge Brand | | | | says Accavitti. |
| and SRT Marketing and Communication, has this | | | | While Kasey Kahne is struggling, Ryan Newman, |
| to say about the new nose having put them | | | | another Dodge driver, is performing well. He |
| behind the competition: "We tested the nose | | | | seems to be coasting in the most recent races of |
| together several times last year. We all came to | | | | the season as if he is driving a Dodge cold air |
| a conclusion. We all reached an agreement that it | | | | intake system-equipped Dodge Charger. Accavitti |
| was the right thing to do. Every team had an | | | | addressed the success of Newman compared to |
| input and every team agreed to that. When we | | | | the lackluster performance of other Dodge cars |
| put the nose on the car, it affected the | | | | saying: "This is one of the biggest issues we've |
| suspension setup more on those downforce | | | | had. We can go incredibly fast as a group for one |
| tracks than we had anticipated. It's taken a little | | | | lap. We saw this actually last year. Last year the |
| while to get our arms around what the issues | | | | hypothesis was that it's a clean air issue." |
| were and get some action plans in place." | | | | With the Dodge cars receiving modifications and |
| Accavitti also pointed out that aside from focusing | | | | improving their performance, it would be easy to |
| on the performance of their current cars, they | | | | believe that a Dodge victory will be coming soon. |