NASCAR Delays Next-generation Stock Car Until 2022
On Thursday, NASCAR announced the planned debut of the next-generation stock car is being pushed back until 2022. The new breed was originally expected to take the field at next year’s Daytona 500, but the COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly made that impossible.
“Due to challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, the debut of the Next Gen car will be delayed until 2022,” John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation, said in a statement. “The decision was made in collaboration with the OEMs and team owners. We will continue to develop the Next Gen car, and a revised testing timeline will be shared when more information is available.”
While the new cars have seen some light testing already, they’re incurring a huge number of changes that require more R&D time before anybody feels comfortable putting them on a track for an actual competition. There’s just too much left to contend with. In addition to the totally redesigned bodywork, next-gen vehicles are supposed to boast fresh aerodynamics, larger brakes, 18-inch center-locking lug wheels, independent rear suspensions and modern hybrid powertrains. NASCAR is even swapping the traditional four-speed manual for a sequential transmission.
Some of those changes sparked criticism from fans who said they muddle what NASCAR is all about (and remove some of the challenge for drivers and their crews). Shrewdly, the sanctioning body slipped in a mention of the car’s current progress to assuage those fears. But we never pegged “professional racing driver” as a stress-free assignment and presume most people who’ve spent a prolonged period of time inside an active track car would feel the same.
“It’s not about what drives the best, what’s the easiest to drive … we don’t want that,” NASCAR Cup driver Joey Logano said after doing some preliminary testing at Richmond Raceway. “We want something that’s challenging that will show that the best driver and the best team will prevail … So we’re trying things on different extremes.”
NASCAR hasn’t offered any updates on when the car will ultimately make its racing debut. For now, we’re operating under the assumption that the delay will least at least one full year.
[Image: NASCAR]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Why would there be a Camaro race car for the next gen? Didn't the Witch Barra Motors Company cancel the Shamaro for production? I wonder what car would be left to race for that company? A Cadihack?
Swapped the winter tires on the truck for the summer tires and then worked a bit on the dash in the Cobra replica. New Speedhut gauges and Corbeau seats since the old VDO stuff was awful and the old seats leather was all cracked. Went from a black dash and seats to camel/spice color.