Change is a-comin' to the Nationwide Series, and so far, everybody's pretty much happy with it. NASCAR is rolling out new Nationwide cars in the same way that the Car of Tomorrow became the de facto Sprint Cup car two years ago. Perhaps NASCAR learned a thing or two from watching the CoT in action, and perhaps not.
At Talladega on Monday, NASCAR introduced the new Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Chevy Impala and Toyota Camry. Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Kelly Bires and James Buescher of Phoenix Racing jumped in the rides to run them through their paces. The drivers, later joined by Colin Braun, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne, ran the cars alone, in single file and in drafting bunches. No bump-drafting, of course, but then, did you expect that?
Allgaier said the new car "drives like a dream," and other drivers and engineers expressed similar satisfaction, which is nice. For more on the technical specs of the new car, click here. And, as NASCAR Insiders points out, NASCAR "now has a problem on its hands. They have visually attractive and realistic-looking Nationwide cars competing with the less-than-handsome Cup Series CoT." (Sensing a problem afoot, NASCAR has indicated it will make changes to the Sprint Cup car in 2011.)
The car will roll out at Daytona in the summer, and will later run at Michigan, Richmond and Charlotte. Come 2011, it'll be the standard for all Nationwide races.
New race car receives favorable marks at test [NASCAR.com]
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