Dodge names new senior manager of motorsports
BROOKLYN, Mich. - Dodge introduced Mike Delahanty today as its new Senior Manager of Motorsports Programs, partially filling the holes left by the retirements of John Fernandez and Bob Wildberger.
Fernandez, the former director of motorsports, has joined Chip Ganassi Racing, while Wildberger, the former program manager, is still exploring his next move. Delahanty and Dodge director of SRT and Motorsports Marketing Mike Accavitti will spearhead the manufacturer's racing program.
Delahanty doesn't directly replace Fernandez, as Delahanty will also oversee marketing efforts in addition to his racing-related duties. Delahanty served as the company's senior manager for competitive analysis for five years, studying Dodge rival's vehicles.
That knowledge, Accavitti said, could help Dodge catch up to NASCAR rival Chevrolet, which has won 14 times to Dodge's five in 2006.
"That's one of the reasons why we brought in an expert at looking at what the competition's doing and making recommendations on how we can improve our performance," Accavitti said. "Mike's going to be a very big help in that regard because this has been his expertise for the last decade or so."
