CHRYSLER OFFERS GAS INCENTIVES

Chrysler LLC will subsidize gasoline for new-car buyers so they pay only $2.99 a gallon for three years. Consumers can choose the program, which expires June 2, instead of other incentives.

Among the vehicles covered by the program are Dodge Ram pickups, and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans. Excluded from the program are Sprinter commercial trucks and high-performance models such as the Challenger and Viper sports cars.

"This is really more about helping customers contend with uncertain economic times," President Jim Press said. "Here, they can at least lock in on what their fuel costs are going to be."

The incentive marks Chrysler's second effort to woo buyers with discounted fuel. As part of DaimlerChrysler AG, the automaker distributed a $2,400 gasoline card and free maintenance in November 2005.

Chrysler, the third-largest U.S. auto manufacturer, is struggling with an 18 percent sales slide in 2008 and a 24 percent slide in U.S. sales in April. Industrywide sales may fall this year to their lowest since 1998 as fuel prices rise and the economy slows. [05/07/08]

GAINES GOES TO SEMIS AT GATEWAY

V. Gaines drove his HEMI-powered Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T to his third semifinals appearance of the season in the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. on Sunday. Gaines was the best of an impressive group of seven Mopar-powered drivers who qualified for the 16-car NHRA POWERade Pro Stock field.

Gaines, who advanced to the semis at Houston and took the event win at Phoenix earlier this year, defeated Greg Stanfield in the opening stanza. He then knocked off fellow HEMI-powered driver John Nobile in the quarterfinals with a pass of 6.626/207.91 coupled with an impressive reaction time of .023. Gaines' strong outing ended in the semis with a red-light loss to Kurt Johnson. All of this was accomplished despite the absence of his crew chief, Clyde West, who was hospitalized earlier in the week.

For the first time this season, Allen Johnson failed to start his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T driver in the top five — he qualified sixth. Johnson faced off with May Naylor in the first round and treated the crowd to an impressive HEMI-powered show. AJ edged out Naylor's VegasFuel Dodge Stratus R/T for the victory by just 17 inches. Johnson went into severe tire shake in the quarterfinals, handing the round win to Dave Connolly.

Johnson remains fifth in the Pro Stock standings, with Gaines seventh.  (Linda Brock photos) [05/07/08]