Challengers in NASCAR
 

The following story was in the December 2008 Issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines:

NASCAR Challenger?
Mopar brings its coupe pony car in the Nationwide series

"In an effort to differentiate the Nationwide (formerly Busch Cup) racing series form the Nextel Cup big boys, NASCAR has asked its participating manufacturers to develop new bodies for the 2010 year, leaning toward sporty coupe models. That means that Mustang shaped, Challenger shaped and Camaro shaped machines will be duking it out on the high banks and road courses of the NASCAR circuit.
Testing began this past month, and while Toyota is stuck with its Camry coupe model, the Detroit Three have been encouraged to shape their new Car of Tomorrow chassis’ed machines like the pony cars that are enjoying their current renaissance.
Early prototypes saw new noses grafted onto older bodies – the Dodge they tested has a Challenger-esque nose grafted onto a current Charger body. This is expected to change over time as the various teams get up to speed with their machines. The 2010 Nationwide cars will run on a 110-inch wheelbase, same as the current Nextel Cup cars and up from the 105 inches as they currently run.
The Nationwide series will see the newly bodied cars take to the track for the first time at the start of the 2010 season".


Could this still happen....or is all just wishful thinking....I guess time will tell...

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

looks like I'm headin' to the bookstore!!!

Steve

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

I could see a camry out racing a mustang or camaro... but not a challenger.... that would just be wrong

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

The only trouble is, like Nextel Cup, they're talking about totally fake "Cars of Tomorrow." When is NASCAR going to wise up and start running STOCK cars again? Till then, I, like many other former NASCAR fans, will give it a pass. [sm=boosign.gif]

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

The short answer....Never....

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

Sadly I'm afraid your correct on this. They like to stay with old outdated rules which hurts everyone who is playing in on it.

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

I just attended my first Dirt Track race in years last weekend.....enjoyed it 100 times more than a Nextel race....it is the way racing should be....and watching the "Stockers" bought back visions of the NASCAR of old.....

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

I've been to races using NASCAR like cars on dirt tracks, would this be the same as what you are referring to or is it something different. If it is different could you provide info on what this consist of and what models they use.

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

If it's what I'm familiar with, they're probably using Monte Carlos, Mustangs, Camaros and maybe even a few, left-over "full size" Thunderbirds of 1997 vintage. In short, they're real cars, NOT "cars of tomorrow." And many times, they're "cars of yesterday." ;)

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

That would be fun to watch. So if I'm understanding this correctly, you would have Mustangs, F-body Camaros, W-body Monte Carlos, and the last of the RWD Thunderbird/Cougars. Now this would be fun to watch to see who truely made a superior car.

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

Yeah, RLSH. I like that kind of racing a lot better than NASCAR.

Oh...back in the mid-1970s, a buddy and I used to go to the races that were held every Saturday night during the summer at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (one could pay 50 cents for a seat in front of the grandstand then sneak up to a better seat as soon as the races started). Most of the cars they were using were early-70s Camaros and Chargers. There was one guy, though, who raced each week with a 1957 Plymouth. It was a tank and invariably came in dead last in whatever 10-lap heat race it was in, thereby never making the 25-lap main event. But it was still cool seeing that 57 out there week after week. :D

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

With something like this, there are far more surprises and room for error and for potentially superior cars. This to me would feel more realistic than NASCAR. It feels way to manufactured to be true Stock Car Racing.

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

Another aspect of this type of racing has to do with the fact that most of these guys are "low Buck" weekend warriors, not professionals...which makes the racing even more exciting. They may not be Nextel professionals....but they have the desirer (if not always the skill) to win.....They race for the fun of it....not for the money, as they will never get rich at this level of racing.
(and yes most of the cars are GM such as Monte Carlos and Camaros, but sometimes there will be a Ford or even a Mopar out there)........check it out.....

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

It certainly sounds a lot more interesting. What do they generally have for engine output? And what Mopars do they generally run?

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

Been to some of these races at the local speedway... my favorite has always been the figure 8 race though... :D

RE: Challengers in NASCAR
 

The local Flat Rock Speedway offers amature stock car racing on Fridays during the summer. I could include it in a Mopars in Motown visit.

I've heard no replies one way or the other for a Motown event.