Series Formerly Known As Busch to Pony Up

Posted Sep 15th 2007 9:54PM



or Why NASCAR Is Better Than Other Racing Series ... They keep coming up with new ways to keep it fresh. We don't always like them, but they do keep it interesting.

Sources are telling Speed that the series that will cease to be known as Busch after this season is planning a major change as early as 2009--a switch to Pony cars:
If plans go according to schedule, the next-generation Busch Series cars will be Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and an as-yet-to-be named Toyota model, sources said. Ford overhauled the Mustang as a 1960s-retro model in 2005, to positive critical and commercial results. Chevrolet and Dodge will release similarly retro-themed Camaros and Challengers, respectively, by the 2009 model year.The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger all are two-door coupes with rear-wheel drive and available V-8 engines, a hugely popular combination in the halcyon days of 1960s muscle cars.
I imagine the difficulty NASCAR has had in securing sponsorship for the series has inspired them to shake things up. Short of limiting/excluding Nextel Sprint Cup drivers' participation in the series--and what series should prohibit racers from racing?--NASCAR needs to do something to spice up the series. Firing up the manufacturers can't hurt.

'Course, they might want to do something about the runaway point lead phenomena, too.

Hard to say what not running a "Cup-lite" might do for Buschwhacking. Running another type of race car might inspire even more Cup drivers to compete or it might eliminate some benefit to Cup racing. Would either be a bad thing?

Whether this has been inspired by difficulty securing sponsorship or a desire to improve competition, I don't care. Personally, I think it's inspired by the 2009 retro Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challengers. I know I am, although I'm partial to the Camaros. The sneak peak sent me on a walk down memory lane to my 14-year-old lead foot and my first 160mph leisure drive on two-lane blacktop in Iowa. I don't remember his name any more, but I'll never forget the ride he was brave enough to let me get behind the wheel of--a '67 Camaro SS 396 in Hugger Orange.

Whatever the inspiration, the switch to muscle cars would be a great way to give the Busch--or whatever it will be called--Series its own identity. Even better if the cars have different body styles.

Bring it on!

 

I'll only gain interest in the change if they start running Challengers, Camaros, and Mustangs, and not offer essentially what they are using now with a shell that is supposed to look like a Challenger, Camaro, or Mustang. The Challenger should use one of the Hemis that will be offered in, the Camaro should feature whatever LS engine that is being used in the production model, and the Mustang should use a Modular engine that they are using in the production model without a supercharger. This way it is more realistic like the way it used to be. I will also gain interest if the Toyota model that they sponsor is actually the production car and not just an engine that is only used in NASCAR and not in any of their production models. If they can't offer a model that can compete then they can get out of it.

 

I agree RLSH700. What killed my interest in Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup) racing was when NASCAR itself took over the design of the cars and not allowing the auto companies' actual designs to have any influence on the cars. Even in the late 1980s and early '90s, the cars had to at least use the hood, trunk lid and roof of a real car and the cars had to fit templates submitted by the manufacturers. Now, the cars that are raced have absolutely no similarity except in name to the production models. I'd much rather go down to San Antonio Speedway and watch a bunch of old Mustangs and Camaros race, because at least they're real cars. NASCAR would be better -- especially on the short tracks where any type of high speed in impossible anyway -- to use REAL production cars with the real engines and real powertrains. Let's see which of the manufacturers' products actually is the best. That might get me interested in NASCAR again.

 

What a good idea. Remember SCCA Trans-am series from the 70s AMX, Camaro, Mustang, Trans-Am, and CHALLENGER and CUDA. It was awsome to see these cars on the edge. I love watching the old films of the Trans-Am series and the cars are just that. Production cars with a roll cage and production engines and drive trains. Its was very popular and you could pull for your make to win. And you had braging rights. Now in NASCAR it the multi team with the most money. And you change from a Dodge to Chevy by changing decals and a motor. I like it when the driver has to take it to the edge and show some talent. I need more wedge or my tires need a 1/2 lb more air. I like NASCAR, but its not what it used to be. People associate with brand loyalty and when you take that away... all you have is the driver and team. You will lose many of the brand loyal fans and there are many. If this is true about the pony cars, it will be a breath of fresh air. But like it was written, they need to be production cars and production engines. And if driving one or the other gives you an edge... so be it. Let the others catch up.

 

Amen. NASCAR needs to to change its name or do what RLSH700 is saying....either make all short tracks actual stock cars, make all bush series actual stock carts (with NASCAR approved safety cages and other preps) or have a forth (in addition to trucks series) class of racing called Rally or some such thing which would be stock cars on road courses. Hell, I'd go up to Watkins Glenn for real Dodges racing....I think it would attract a bunch of people who are jaded with the status quo.

Also, why they were at it, they could introduce new specs to push technology. Have 3 liter 6 cylinder class. This way they could keep the speeds at a relatively safe speed and really push the technology. Back in the 50's,60' and 70's, NASCAR racing technology was making its way into the market....now you look at what the engine specs are and wonder, why? They still produce incredible horsepower and torque, but allow overhead cams, efi, (not sure if they're allowed to have electronically controlled ignition, but that too if not allowed now)

Be kind of cool, to say, "Yeah, my brand is really figuring things out and making the fastest Stock Cars".

 

NASCAR Trans-AM (sort of)

Wednesday September 19, 2007 @ 10:37 AM EDT

Posted by rsc1911

I picked this up off SPEEDTV’s website. Read the rest at http://www.speedtv.com/articles/nascar/busch/40293/
Let’s pray NASCAR keeps it’s template loving hands off the cars and let’s em run au-natural. It would be like a return to the Trans-am series of the late 60’s.
NASCAR hopes to inject new life into its Busch Series by changing the types of cars raced, beginning as early as 2009, according to multiple sources familiar with the project.
If plans go according to schedule, the next-generation Busch Series cars will be Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and an as-yet-to-be named Toyota model, sources said. Ford overhauled the Mustang as a 1960s-retro model in 2005, to positive critical and commercial results. Chevrolet and Dodge will release similarly retro-themed Camaros and Challengers, respectively, by the 2009 model year.
The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger all are two-door coupes with rear-wheel drive and available V-8 engines, a hugely popular combination in the halcyon days of 1960s muscle cars. A switch to these cars – plus whichever model Toyota chooses to campaign – would make a huge amount of sense, as it would help the NASCAR Busch Series have its own distinct identity apart from Nextel Cup…

 

Trans-Am series...too cool.......

Yeah, if toyota marketing were where it needs to be, they could take this as an opportunity to reintroduce a rear wheel drived supra w/ a V8.........