Pony Cars To Nascar?

General Lee 01 · December 4, 2007

From Jayski:

A Ford Mustang in NASCAR in 2009? Maybe: A source at Ford Motor Company says the motorsports division expects the Ford Mustang to replace the Fusion in the NASCAR Busch [Nationwide Series in 2008] series. "We're expecting to run the Mustang in 2009," the source said. It's the first confirmation from a manufacturer what I [Cole] first reported in early 2006 - that the cars in the NASCAR Busch series, which will be called the Nationwide series in 2008 and beyond - may soon be substantially different from the cars in the top-tier Nextel Cup series. NASCAR is expected to require the Busch cars to be built to a safety specification similar to the Nextel Cup "Car of Tomorrow," which becomes the standard car at the Daytona 500 in February. If a makeover will be required anyway for the 2009 season, logic suggests that would be a good time for a nameplate change, as well.

That said, it may not be a done deal. Reportedly Chevrolet is balking at running the Camaro in the NASCAR series. Rumors suggest that Dodge is considering a Busch series version of the Challenger, which just went on sale at a price of under $38,000, for delivery in 2008. Dodge will build 5,000 Challengers in 2008, and expects to increase that number by sevenfold for 2009. Sales expectations for the Chevrolet Camaro are higher. With the discontinuation of the Monte Carlo, Chevrolet has no sports coupe aside from the Corvette and the small Cobalt SS, and won't until the Camaro is introduced. The Corvette will continue to race in the American Le Mans and Grand-Am series, though one contingent within General Motors is pressing for a body change for the ALMS GT1 class, where GM's two factory Corvettes literally have no competition: They'd like to see those Corvettes rebodied as Camaros to help launch that model, which won't hit the market until well after the Challenger.

Also, the move to "pony car" coupes could cause a problem for Toyota. The Camry Solara, a two-door sedan version of the top-selling car in the United States, may disappear after the 2008 model year. Sales are dismal; Toyota is expected to build only about 30,000 Solaras this year, compared to about 400,000 Camry sedans. One possibility at Toyota: Automotive News says that the company is expected to introduce a new Celica sports coupe in Europe in 2009. If that car comes here, it could be raced in NASCAR. The discontinued Celica made some appearances in the now-defunct NASCAR Dash series. If the move to the Mustang, et al, is to be made for 2009, that announcement would be expected soon after the first of next year.(Orlando Sentinel)(12-1-2007)

Zembonez · December 4, 2007

I must admit I think such a series would bring back many of the fans that NASCAR has lost over the last few years. I'd be interested in seeing it. Anything is better than the cookie cutter - all star driver - public relation events they call racing now.

NASCAR better get on the stick if they want to keep their fan base alive. My interest has dropped about 90% since the death of Earnhardt. Not just because of his death, but all of the changes that have happened since. It used to be a much more entertaining sport before it became 100% big money corporate multi-car teams.

OH, and as a simple request, let's please not hear from any of our 12 year old members screaming "NASCAR sucks"... Man this place is getting full of that crap. I'm about ready to throw in the towel...

Wingnut · December 4, 2007

NASCAR SUCKS!

Darkanion · December 4, 2007

NASCAR SUCKS!

That door was propped a little too open for someone to not say it... hehehe

C & A s Dad · December 4, 2007

Jim, I once was a big fan and still follow it to some degree.

I hate the one car fits all philosophy and wish they would develop a series of true stock body cars like they once were. No allowances offering one body to "catch up" with another, just stock shape with spoilers. If Ford could produce a shape that out perfoms everyone else, so be it. Let GM and Chrysler redisgn and catch up and vise versa.

I despise what they have allowed the sport to become but still love to see them go round and round.