The next generation of NASCAR racecars was unveiled on Wednesday, May 5, and auto manufacturers hope the added character to the design will bring fans to the showroom floor.
Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota worked with NASCAR to design their next racecar to look more like the production vehicles they sell on dealership lots – like it was in the earlier days of NASCAR.
The new models look more like regular cars that have been “souped up,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said.
“When I look at this race car, it looks exactly like the race car that I can potentially buy on Monday,” Phelps said. “Getting back to our roots, getting back to kind of putting the stock back in stock car will help sell vehicles on Monday.”
The new Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Toyota Camry will make their debut in the 2022 Daytona 500.
Besides changing the design to look more like normal cars, other changes include switching to larger, 18-inch forged aluminum wheels with one lug nut instead of five, switching to an independent rear suspension and going to a five-speed sequential transmission instead of the current four-speed H-pattern transmission.
The new car will also be more compatible with a hybrid or fully electric engine, allowing NASCAR to transition away from the gas-powered engine in future years.
“What Ford has made here with this Mustang, you’d be lying if you said this thing isn’t beautiful,” NASCAR driver Joey Logano said. “It looks aggressive, neat, just like what you see on the street. I think any Mustang enthusiast, Ford lover, would absolutely approve of what we’re going to bring to the racetrack.”
The new cars have a few Michigan ties. Some of the development for the new Mustang happened at Ford’s Dearborn design center.
Livonia’s Roush Advanced Composites is building multiple components of the car for teams, including the brake ducts. Jackson-based Technique Chassis will build the base frame for the car.
NASCAR’s goals for the new car are to improve the racing and bring down costs for teams – potentially enticing other manufacturers to join the sport.
