The automaker also announced that it will field cars for Penske Championship Racing’s two full-time Nationwide Series teams and three full-time Sprint Cup teams. With the Challenger being used for the COT races, the Charger will be used for the non-COT races.

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of Dodge Car Brand, said:

As the performance brand of our new company, we are excited to expand our relationship with Penske Racing and introduce the iconic Dodge Challenger as our entry into the NASCAR Nationwide Series. … Motorsports are a significant part of the Dodge brand’s legacy. Penske Racing has such a rich tradition in motorsports, and our partnership in the Nationwide Series will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the Challenger and offer our loyal Dodge enthusiasts plenty of excitement in this very competitive series next year.

Justin Allgaier will drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge, while Brad Keselowski will drive the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge in the Nationwide Series. Keselowski will also drive the No. 12 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series, along with teammates Sam Hornish Jr and Kurt Busch.

Tim Cindric, president of Penske Championship Racing, said:

[This] announcement further reinforces our relationship and commitment to Dodge Motorsports, and we are excited about our future with this great brand. … We believe Dodge’s relationship with Penske Racing will continue to elevate and highlight both our brands and deliver value to Dodge enthusiasts.

Ford recently unveiled its Ford Mustang that will compete in the four car-of-tomorrow races next season.

Mike Accavitti, an official with Dodge Motorsports, said:

The partnership not only will transform Chrysler into a new, stronger car company with many strategic advantages, it will enable the company to better serve our customers with a broader and more comprehensive lineup of vehicles. NASCAR is a strategic part of our marketing plan and the Dodge brand. We plan to continue our Dodge sponsorship and relationship into the foreseeable future.

The Treasury Department is planning on giving Chrysler as much as $3.5 billion, while the Canadian and Ontario governments are going to provide ths company without about $800 million in exchange for 2 percent equity.

The answer? Probably not much would happen.

While NASCAR touted the safety aspects, the savings, and the closer competition as reasons for the new car design, I think that the Car of Tomorrow also freed NASCAR from the mercy of the carmakers.

Sprint Cup cars are made by teams individually. There are no NASCAR factories that crank out COTs like GM or Chrysler plants. These cars are custom built in race shops by Sprint Cup teams. I imagine that other than providing parts, the carmakers have little to do with production or maintenance.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that carmakers provide support for their cars. But, if that support goes away, the make wouldn’t necessarily.

Last year, Dodge announced it would pull its factory support from what is now the Camping world Truck Series. At the time, Mike Delahanty, senior manager of Dodge Motorsports, said:

We’ll have no factory-funded teams. When times are tough, there are certain things that are lower on the priority list than others. There’s a lot of Dodge trucks, engines and parts out there, [teams] may choose to run them. We just won’t be writing the checks to any teams.

I’m sure that any carmaker that left the sport at this point would take the same stance.

Sure, some teams might stop using their cars. But, teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Petty Motorsports would continue building their race cars, and would still compete.

Large sponsorships would, most likely, keep the bigger players in the sport. And the relatively low cost of competing these days, with the testing ban, would keep most of the smaller teams in the sport.

So, even if Dodge and Chevy were to leave, the sport would find a way to survive. After all, this isn’t the first time automaker support was in jeopardy.

Mike Delahanty, of Dodge Motorsports, refuted the rumors that GEM would leave Dodge. He said:

Dodge and Gillett Evernham have a long history that dates to our return to Sprint Cup racing (2001). Dodge and GEM have a long-term contract in place. We plan to continue as partners in NASCAR. We’re aware and have had discussion about GEM’s interest in adding a fourth car, but there’s never been discussion about running anything but a Dodge. Anything beyond that, we classify as pure speculation.

Patrick Carpentier is officially a free agent. GEM informed Carpentier that the team could not secure sponsorship for next season. While GEM could still find a sponsor, it’s not likely.

While teams can still field Dodge trucks next season, the carmaker will not provide any financial support, said Mike Delahanty, senior manager of Dodge Motorsports.

This will not affect the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series teams, Delahanty said.

Currently, Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia’s No. 18, driven by Dennis Setzer, is the only full time racing team that receives financial support from Dodge. BHR-VA fielded two trucks since the beginning of the season, but one team folded prior to last weekend’s Camping World 200 presented by Honda Power Equipment due to financial constraints.

The other full time Dodge team, the No. 08 of SS Racing/Greenlight Racing, driven by Jason White, received no financial support from Dodge.

BHR-VA has talked to Chevy, Ford, and Toyota about switching next season.

Delahanty told ESPN:

We’ll have no factory-funded teams. When times are tough, there are certain things that are lower on the priority list than others. There’s a lot of Dodge trucks, engines and parts out there, [teams] may choose to run them. We just won’t be writing the checks to any teams.