Dodge, which last competed in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2012, is returning to the nation’s top stock car circuit at the 2027 Daytona 500 (on Feb. 21). The announcement was made at this week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
“Everyone said it was impossible to get back in one year,” says Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands, SRT Performance, and the Direct Connection division of Stellantis North America in Auburn Hills. “We said, ‘watch this.’
“Sure, we could spend three years planning, testing, and perfecting — or we could do all three in real time, on the track. It’s going to be exponentially harder this way. But slow has never been part of Dodge DNA.”
Dodge, which has a storied history in NASCAR with legendary drivers like Lee and Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, and Bobby Allison, last competed on the cup circuit in 2012 when Brad Keselowski claimed the championship driving for Team Penske.
Stellantis returned to NASCAR competition this year fielding a Ram in the Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing, which also will run Dodge Chargers in the cup series.
Spearheading the Dodge return to the NASCAR Cup Series is Dodge SRT Racing, which leads all North American motorsports efforts, including NASCAR, NHRA, and additional motorsports series.
The team will announce its two drivers for next season this weekend during NASCAR Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Also at the SEMA Show, Mopar introduced its 90th anniversary Mopar ’27 Dodge Charger, a limited-edition package that blends distinctive Mopar styling, modern muscle-car attitude, and factory-engineered personalization.
Available on two-door 2027 Dodge Charger R/T and Dodge Charger Scat Pack Plus models, the Mopar ’27 package will be limited to 270 units, with 90 vehicles offered in each of three exterior colors, Bludicrous, Diamond Black, and White Knuckle, providing a nod to Mopar’s 90-year heritage.
Dealer orders begin in early January 2027. Production will begin in spring 2027, and allocation will be split between 243 units for the U.S. market and 27 units for Canada.
“The Mopar ’27 Dodge Charger showcases our passion for personalization and performance while celebrating nine decades of helping enthusiasts make their vehicles uniquely their own,” says Darren Bradshaw, senior vice president of Stellantis parts and services – North America. “Our latest special-edition, limited-build package delivers exclusive styling, premium materials, and signature Mopar touches that celebrate the passion, performance and personalization enthusiasts have come to expect from Mopar.”
Exclusive Mopar ’27 content includes:
- Direct Connection carbon-fiber front splitter.
- Direct Connection carbon-fiber hood with functional scoop.
- Direct Connection cold-air intake system.
- Direct Connection carbon-fiber rear spoiler.
- Unique bodyside and hood graphics.
- Serialized Mopar ’27/Mopar 90th anniversary under-hood plaque mounted on the radiator closeout panel.
- Unique interior badge on dashboard.
In Related News: Stellantis Pro One has unveiled its new logo, marking a milestone in its evolution and reaffirming its role as the trusted reference for professional customers worldwide.
More than a new design, the new Pro One logo is said to symbolize the next chapter of the brand’s journey and its global ambitions through the execution of the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy.
Designed as a modern expression of the Pro One identity, the new logo is meant to embody “the strengths that have driven the business’s success while looking ahead to the future of professional mobility.”
It demonstrates Pro One’s commitment to delivering vehicles built around customer needs and to supporting professionals through an increasingly comprehensive ecosystem of services, connected technologies and tailored solutions, the company says.
