Dodge would be the first producer to enter Nitrocross’ all-electric Group E competitors, partnering with defending two-time champions Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to discipline a fleet of 4 Dodge Hornet R/T-branded FC1-Xs.
The workforce’s common drivers Robin Larsson, Andreas Bakkerud and Fraser McConnell might be joined by Lia Block at Richmond Raceway this weekend for the model’s debut within the first spherical of the 2024-25 season.
“Dodge is properly often called America’s efficiency model, and to hold the Dodge model’s banner and compete in Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X vehicles is the proper match for our group,” mentioned workforce proprietor Dennis Reinbold. “Like Dodge, we like to go quick, so it’s like we share the identical DNA. It’s such an awesome alignment for us to compete in Nitrocross because it continues to develop at a record-breaking tempo.
“The extent of pleasure is rising all through this sequence and Dodge has simply cranked it up much more. Followers have to come back out to see the facility of those vehicles battling as they actually fly across the monitor.”
Whereas there was hypothesis of a return to NASCAR, or a transfer into IMSA for Dodge in recent times, the model’s CEO Matt McAlear mentioned that Nitrocross’ youthful goal demographic made it a really perfect place to go and race because it seems to market its new electrical autos to a brand new viewers.
“Practically 75 p.c of Nitrocross race followers are between the ages of 18-34, making the sequence the proper venue for Dodge to develop its motorsports presence and to showcase the Dodge Hornet to a youthful, enthusiastic new viewers,” he mentioned. “We’re wanting ahead to an awesome inaugural Nitrocross season for the Dodge model, with a championship-winning group just like the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing workforce carrying the Dodge banner.”
Dodge’s transfer into Nitrocross provides to an already sturdy presence in electrical motorsport for father or mother firm Stellantis, with sister manufacturers DS and Maserati each already collaborating in Components E. The announcement additionally marks the primary transfer for a carmaker into Nitrocross’ high class because it went electrical in 2022, and is prone to be adopted by others earlier than too lengthy, with RACER conscious of at the very least three different producers signaling an curiosity within the sequence.
“Nitrocross is thrilled to welcome Dodge to the sequence as our first official producer entry,” mentioned Nitrocross basic supervisor Chip Pankow. “Dodge is about efficiency and so are we, and we are able to’t wait to see them show it on the monitor.”
The transfer additionally marks a return to rallycross for Dodge, which final participated over a decade in the past when it ran a pair of Dodge Darts through the 2012 and 2013 International Rallycross seasons. Travis Pastrana, who’s since based Nitrocross, took the model’s solely occasion win within the self-discipline in New Hampshire in 2013.
