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Here is a look at the cars in the NASCAR Premier Series and who drives them

By Ted Fleming

Nov 19, 2016; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series race down the backstretch into turn three during the Ford Ecoboost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series race down the backstretch into turn three during the Ford Ecoboost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL -ÊJULY 4, 1975: Richard Petty with his STP Dodge in victory lane after winning the Firecracker 400 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -ÊJULY 4, 1975: Richard Petty with his STP Dodge in victory lane after winning the Firecracker 400 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) /

For the fifth straight season, there will be no Dodge entries in NASCAR’s Premier Series, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be trying to get back in.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is entering the 69th season and 46th in what is considered the “Modern Era,” and when the first green flag drops there will be a trio of car manufacturers that will put their brands on the track.

In all, there are three companies that dominate the Premier Series, unlike the Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series where there are four. You can only find Chevrolet, Toyota and Ford in Cup, but at the next two levels, you will see the Dodge nameplate: the Challenger in Xfinity and Ram (a Chrysler product) in Trucks.

Dodge has no one but themselves to blame for falling out of the sport. Team Penske was coming off a stellar season in 2012, but instead of getting an extension done quickly, Dodge dragged out the approval process and Ford swooped in with a better offer. Penske has a previous relationship with Ford, so it made the switch back a no-brainer as far as they were concerned.

The loss of Team Penske put Dodge behind the eight-ball because they were unable to find another team they thought deserved any offer from them, estimated back then to be worth as much as $30 million.

So with Dodge once again on the sidelines, here is a look at the other three nameplates and the teams and drivers tied to them.

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