November 20, 2002

With the 2002 Winston Cup season in the books we can now tell the story of the Mopar 358-cubic-inch Magnum R5-P7 program and perhaps shed light on recent results.

The Dodge Intrepid R/T made its debut on the Winston Cup series circuit last season bringing with it the Chrysler Magnum power plant. That effort has now completed a full year of racing other than what can be considered a building year.

The history of the Magnum motor project was no secret with manager of NASCAR engine programs Ted Flack leading the way for Dodge. For those that followed the program from its infancy will remember that Dodge had a developmental program going with NHRA at the same time as the NASCAR program. The NHRA plan included a 500-cubic-inch Pro Stock engine and NASCAR was to receive a 358-cubic inch beauty for the Winston Cup series. Both programs utilized similar engineering technologies although in a different form.

Dodge assembled a team of engine pros for the NASCAR effort with names such as Joey Arrington son of former racer Buddy Arrington. Joey worked on the first Dodge engines with Petty Enterprises more than seven years ago. Ernie Elliott and Tony Santanicola with partner Bob Fisher joined the ranks of the noted Dodge effort with over 50 years of engineering expertise combined between the three.

Dodge paid their dues in the NASCAR craftsman Truck Series and, gathered much information that paid off in technology testing for the new Cup engine. Designed with the aid of computer programs each portion of the engine was tested well before any castings were ever forged.

The 2002 season started off well with Ward Burton winning the Daytona 500 in what could not be considered a run away effort due to a wreck that took out several good cars. Ward managed to miss that event and went on for his first ever Daytona 500 victory.

2002 would see the Dodge effort post respectable wins and qualifying pole positions for the first five month period. During this period NASCAR the sanctioning body for the Winston Cup series would hear several complaints from Ford and Chevrolet teams that pointed to what they believed to be an advantage in the area of the Dodge engine block and configuration. The contention for the most part was that the Magnum block because of its casting was able to accommodate wider but yet shorter cylinders. The Dodge Magnum engine has a Ford crankshaft and, runs a set of SB2 Chevrolet heads but the block is of a Chrysler design.

NASCAR has never really mandated exact figures for what a cylinder bore had to be until this season. Yes there is the realization of the 358-cubic-inch rule but, some engine builders would run a variety of depth and width configurations on the cylinders in an effort to achieve desired results.

In June of 2002 NASCAR had finally hinted that perhaps there was an advantage given to Dodge in the very beginning of their new program. Some suggest that NASCAR knew of this engine advantage but didn’t want Dodge to fall flat on their face upon their noted come back into the Winston Cup battle after a sixteen year absence. The sanctioning body implemented an engine bore rule that did have an effect on the Dodge effort.

Taking effect on July 3 2002 NASCAR mandated that a Winston Cup engine would be allowed a maximum bore of 4.185 inches overall. This new rule left Dodge in a scramble situation because now that longer block was at a disadvantage showing an extra 40 estimated pounds of dead weight. There is nothing wrong with dead weight as long as it is located in a proper area of the car. This additional 40 pounds sat a little high in the car as compared to that golden area located low and too the left of the transmission which is an area that in most cases would actually aid in the cars balance.

Ernie Elliott was caught with several engines setting on the shop floor that were deemed useless because of the new rule. John Darby insisted that the teams had plenty of time to prepare for this change but none the less it appeared as a shock to most of us in the racing community.

July of 2002 would see an event that was astounding with Bill Elliott obtaining two poles and two wins with Ward Burton, also running a Dodge engine claiming a victory. Remember now folks that this came after NASCAR came marching in with the new bore rule.

Dodge obtained permission from NASCAR to recast the Magnum block after the bore rule was implemented due to heavy lobbying. This new block was actually cast by Caterpillar and made its debut at Martinsville. You may ask why did Cat cast such a piece? That’s simple. Daimler Chrysler and Caterpillar formed what they called a global alliance in 2000. Cat is known for casting parts that run the gambit from medium-duty engines all the way up to industrial gas turbines.

How did the recast block perform for the remainder of the 2002 season?

Things really dropped off for Dodge after that streak with Bill Elliott in July and August. Sterling Marlin got a pole position at Darlington in September and, Jamie McMurray won in October. Other than that it has been poor for the Dodge camp. The new recast block made it to the track in October at Martinsville and we have seen nothing from the Dodge boys in regard to victory results.

With that history under your belt we now point to yet the strangest point of all.

Penske South announced that they would switch to the Dodge camp in 2003. I am still at a loss for words as to why Roger would make this choice. I fully believe that the Magnum motor was allowed to run at an advantage for a period of time but, now the honeymoon is over. Penske seems to think that he has an answer that the rest of us just can’t see and, all will be revealed in 2003.

Whatever the 2003 Winston Cup season brings I for one believe that Dodge will have its work cut out for it in the area of this current Magnum engine configuration. I would not look to NASCAR for any favors as those markers were all called in when the R5-P7 program got its start. Its time to show your stuff Dodge. I’m thinking that Ted Flack needs to find a way to make these new motors cut it or perhaps Ted will be “cuttin” it at the house.

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