When Dodge-supported Muhammad Ali challenged NASCAR drivers after a standing ovation

Boxing icon Muhammad Ali once appeared on the hood of Bill Elliott's Dodge and made an unexpected visit to a NASCAR Cup Series drivers' meeting, where he made a bold claim. Long retired from boxing, The Greatest hadn't lost his competitive spirit, and made the claim that he could race competitively in the premier stock car division.

During the 2001 Kmart 400 at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott ran a special paint scheme featuring Ali on the hood of his #9 Dodge. At the time, Elliott was driving for Ray Evernham, and the scheme promoted a diversity scholarship program founded by Dodge and supported by NASCAR.

Muhammad Ali, who was residing in Michigan at the time, served as the grand marshal for the Kmart 400 on June 10, 2001. Before giving the command, Ali made a surprise visit to the drivers' meeting and received a standing ovation. He then boldly claimed that if he had a fast car, he'd be out there racing against the best stock car drivers.

"If I had a fast car, I’d be out there racing against you," he was quoted as saying (via The Associated Press/@nascarman_rr on X).

Jeff Gordon won the race at Michigan, while Bill Elliott, running the special paint scheme, started sixth and finished ninth. NASCAR drivers, crew members, and fans celebrated Muhammad Ali's presence at the track, including a five-year-old Chase Elliott.

Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74. His loss was mourned by the NASCAR community.

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Will Dodge return to the NASCAR Cup Series?

Stellantis brand Ram made headlines during the NASCAR weekend at Michigan International Speedway by announcing its return to the Truck Series. CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted that, with this move, the group is also exploring the best path for a potential return to the Cup Series.

Kuniskis said that the intention behind the Truck Series return is not to be a "one-hit wonder", but to follow it up with a return to the premier level of competition. He was quoted by NASCAR as saying:

"We’re looking for a date to the prom right now. So how am I going to get to Cup? That’s going to depend on how I get to Truck. So however we get to Truck is going to obviously weigh heavily on ‘do I have a path to Cup?’ Our intention is not to do a one-hit wonder and go to Truck and not to Cup. That’s not our plan."

Dodge exited the Cup Series after the 2012 season, when Brad Keselowski won the championship driving a Dodge Charger. The brand had separated from Ram in 2010, with the truck brand exiting NASCAR after the 2016 season.