BROOKLYN, Mich. -- One thing is for certain. Mike Accavitti, the former Dodge Motorsports boss, has the ear of the new president and CEO of the entire Dodge operation.

That's because Accavitti is, in fact, the new head of the entire Dodge franchise as it emerges from bankruptcy and attempts to regain a foothold in the automotive manufacturing industry.

“

We intend to remain involved in the NASCAR sport for the foreseeable future. ... We're in this sport to win.

”

MIKE ACCAVITTI

Accavitti met with media prior to Sunday's Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway, promising that Dodge's commitment to NASCAR remains strong even as rumors swirl that Richard Petty Motorsports, which fields four of the seven current cars running Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series, may switch to Toyota next season. Dodge's current contract with RPM expires at the end of this season.

The other three current Dodge cars are being run by Penske Racing.

Two Dodges were running in the top 12 in points heading into Michigan, after which only three races will remain before the field is set for the Chase. Kurt Busch, who drives the No. 2 Penske Dodge, was fourth heading into Sunday, while Kasey Kahne, who drives the No. 9 Dodge for RPM, was eighth.

"We've got two guys in the Chase, knock on wood. I realize it's a little too early to be smoking victory cigars, but we're in better position than we were last year and we're very proud of the work both the Petty and Penske folks are doing for us," Accavitti said.

"We remain committed to this sport. NASCAR people are performance-loving people, and Dodge people are performance-loving people -- so it's what you would consider a match made in heaven. ... We intend to remain involved in the NASCAR sport for the foreseeable future."

Accavitti admitted that his past as the head of the Dodge Motorsports arm of the company made it a no-brainer to remain strongly committed to NASCAR, even though he admitted it likely will be on a smaller scale in the future than it has been in the past.

"We don't have to sell it to anybody but myself -- and I have to believe this is a wise investment. As I have stated before, we feel we are involved in NASCAR at the appropriate level," Accavitti said. (Continued)