Auburn Hills, Mich. – The legendary Dodge Charger race car will roar again in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, both as a competing vehicle and as race sponsor of the May 7, 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway, now known as the “Dodge Charger 500.”

Building off the excitement of the introduction of the 2006 Dodge Charger production vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, Dodge is teaming up with the Carolina Dodge Dealers to make NASCAR’s historic stop at Darlington Raceway a tribute to the Dodge Charger’s return to NASCAR racetracks and Dodge Dealer showrooms nationwide.

“Racing is the core of Dodge’s DNA, and we’re excited to bring back a car that has an accomplished and heralded record as the Dodge Charger,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President – Dodge Marketing.  “The Dodge Charger is firmly woven into the all-American culture and heritage of stock car racing. The all-new Dodge Charger will exhibit a modern upgrade to the same kind of power, performance and style that it represented throughout its gloried stock car history.”

Buddy Baker was the most recent NASCAR Cup Series driver to win a race at Darlington Raceway in a Dodge Charger.  He won the May 2, 1971, race and the Sept. 7, 1970, event in his No. 6 Cotton Owens Dodge Charger.  Four Dodge factory-backed teams, including 10 drivers, are expected to compete in the 2005 Dodge Charger 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.

Dodge expects the Dodge Charger to be as dominant on the street as it is on the racetrack in 2005.  With a 250-horsepower High Output V-6 engine or the optional 340-horsepower HEMI® engine powering large 18-inch rear wheels, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger production vehicle races into the car market with bold, provocative styling and substance without losing the convenience of a modern sedan.

“It’s a car that evokes power and performance under the hood, yet provides everyday functionality and convenience,” said Craig Love, Vice President — Rear-wheel-drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. “We have the proven technologies and the legendary HEMI engine that allow us to produce a modern rear-wheel-drive muscle car.”

Contact:          Dan Bodene               248.512.2920

                      Debby Robinson          312.505.4336