RSS
The rumors were true. At least one ponycar is destined for NASCAR’s Nationwide Series, as Ford confirmed it would offer a Mustang stock car to teams next year.
“We’re excited about the new car,” said NASCAR president Mike Helton. “It’s going to be one good-looking race car.”
Judging by the rendering released by Ford, that last point may a matter of semantics. A lot of the Mustang’s visual identity, especially in the front fascia, seems to have been abandoned in the pursuit of aerodynamic perfection. Still, this is simply a rendering. We’ve yet to see the finalized car, and for that matter, NASCAR has yet to reveal the finalized body template.
“I think race fans–and Mustang loyalists–will be very pleased when we publicly roll out the first car later this fall,” said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford’s North American motorsports operations.
“We had been talking with NASCAR for some time about Mustang as part of its vision for a ‘muscle car’ rollout for the Nationwide Series. We loved the idea, so we jumped on the chance to extend Mustang’s racing legacy to a new series.”
We’reeager not only to see the finalized car, but also to take a look at whatever competitor Dodge may field. Early photos of a test vehicle showed a blunt nose that closely resembled the production Challenger. To date, Dodge hasn’t revealed its new Nationwide Series car, or commented on its future involvement in the series, given Chrysler’s recent financial woes.
Maybe cars based on actual production cars SHOULD be the Goal at NASCAR. This could be done and such a move would bring Brand recognition back to the sport. Racing what you build also would serve to improve the product and make a better car to begin with. Much as AMA Moto Cross, SUPERSTOCK 600 and WORLD SUPERBIKE has done with motorcycles, where the rules REQUIRE production based vehicles. Requiring NASCAR racecars to be production based would raise the bar for the manufacturers’ street going vehicles and give them more return for their dollar investment.
A “Camaro” is not a problem, jerk out the “Ford” V-8, Stick in the “GM” V-8. Heat gun the “mustang” decals abd squegee on the “Camaro” decals. These are not “Stock” cars! They are “Mustangs”, “Impala SS”, “Fusions”, “Chargers” in name only. No Relation to their “Stock” namesakes!
Thats a tube frame with a fiberglass body and Mustang stickers. Hardly a Mustang. http://www.2009gtr.com
What, no Camaro? While NASCAR is at it, they should include the Hyundai Genesis and Nissan GT-R. Ponycars are dead. Sorry to break it to the car guy populous, but it’s true. And since Ford seems to be the only one out of the former “Big Three” that didn’t have to take Federal money, they invariably will be the only ones who have enough extra bread to produce a muscle car that is NASCAR-ready. I don’t think this will be Trans-Am part two (come on GM and Chrysler, prove me wrong!)