It’s reported that after a disappointing season in NHRA Pro Stock drag racing, Mopar has chosen to drop Elite Motorsports from their sponsorship. This decision also means Mopar will not be participating in Pro Stock drag racing at all in 2017. Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global has announced that the decision will let them better focus on Don Schumacher Racing in both Funny Car and Top Fuel classes as well as letting them expand their presence in the Sportsman class.
Just last year, Mopar ended its 20-year deal with Allen Johnson, who won the Pro Stock World Championship in 2012. After a so-so 2015 season, Mopar struck a deal with Elite to put Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Erica Enders into Dodge Darts leaving Johnson to go out and make his own deal with the Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Needless to say, the Elite team’s 2016 season was nowhere near as successful as Mopar was hoping for. Despite having had three consecutive world championships under their belts, neither Enders nor Coughlin ever made it to the final round of racing. That’s when Mopar decided to pull the plug on their Pro Stock program- for now at least.
With Mopar officially out of Pro Stock, just three Dodge branded products are left in the running for the 2017 season at this point. Those are driven by Allen Johnson, Alan Prusiensky and Deric Kramer.
Why don’t they flood the track with 100 of Mopar like chevy does I’m sick of seeing them(GM cars) and now that Mopar is out there no reason to watch it now.
So who actually pulled the Mopar plug first, Mopar themselves or Elite. Reports I’ve seen says Elite.
That’s a fair question that would require quit a bit of digging. Our sources say that the sensitivities that go along with programs of this magnitude will likely keep any of us from getting a straight answer.
I suspect your correct Kevin in really not getting a straight answer from either party but I also can’t help but wonder if Ma Mopar, now under Fiat rule, really supports these guys like they should. It’s obvious the teams don’t get the same amount of support that the GM guys do in Pro Stock. Hence all the work GM did with the change to fuel injection. Then they drop Allan and Roy Johnson who bleed Mopar blue for Jeggie and Erica who seemingly could care less what they drive from a Manufacturer standpoint. I know this was before the Fiat days but Don Schumacher bailed Pro Stock also after a very short time. I suspect for the same support issues, truth be known.