Dodge will be the first manufacturer to enter Nitrocross’ all-electric Group E competition, partnering with defending two-time champions Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to field a fleet of four Dodge Hornet R/T-branded FC1-Xs.
The team’s regular drivers Robin Larsson, Andreas Bakkerud and Fraser McConnell will be joined by Lia Block at Richmond Raceway this weekend for the brand’s debut in the first round of the 2024-25 season.
“Dodge is well known as America’s performance brand, and to carry the Dodge brand’s banner and compete in Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X cars is the perfect fit for our group,” said team owner Dennis Reinbold. “Like Dodge, we love to go fast, so it’s like we share the same DNA. It’s such a great alignment for us to compete in Nitrocross as it continues to grow at a record-breaking pace.
“The level of excitement is growing throughout this series and Dodge has just cranked it up even more. Fans have to come out to see the power of these cars battling as they literally fly around the track.”
While there has been speculation of a return to NASCAR, or a move into IMSA for Dodge in recent years, the brand’s CEO Matt McAlear said that Nitrocross’ younger target demographic made it an ideal place to go and race as it looks to market its new electric vehicles to a new audience.
“Nearly 75 percent of Nitrocross race fans are between the ages of 18-34, making the series the perfect venue for Dodge to expand its motorsports presence and to showcase the Dodge Hornet to a youthful, enthusiastic new audience,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a great inaugural Nitrocross season for the Dodge brand, with a championship-winning organization like the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team carrying the Dodge banner.”
Dodge’s move into Nitrocross adds to an already strong presence in electric motorsport for parent company Stellantis, with sister brands DS and Maserati both already participating in Formula E. The announcement also marks the first move for a carmaker into Nitrocross’ top category since it went electric in 2022, and is likely to be followed by others before too long, with RACER aware of at least three other manufacturers signaling an interest in the series.
“Nitrocross is thrilled to welcome Dodge to the series as our first official manufacturer entry,” said Nitrocross general manager Chip Pankow. “Dodge is about performance and so are we, and we can’t wait to see them prove it on the track.”
The move also marks a return to rallycross for Dodge, which last participated over a decade ago when it ran a pair of Dodge Darts during the 2012 and 2013 Global Rallycross seasons. Travis Pastrana, who’s since founded Nitrocross, took the brand’s only event win in the discipline in New Hampshire in 2013.