Manufactors to change models in 2007

[Chris]

well,.. quite possibly Ford could jump out to an early lead in the points lead in 2007.  If past years is ANY indication when manufactors change models there is a LOT of growing pains trying to figure out the aero balance on the car;... so this could be a problem for Dodge and Chevy.  BY the time they get their problems worked out,.. might be enough of an advantage that a LOT of FORD drivers get themselves positioned to be locked into the chase.??
(well I guess there's NOT a "lot" of Ford drivers... lol).... in any event, with as much as the Toyota teams have been testing this season,.. this is probably the move THEY needed to put a car in the "Chase" in 2007.


Dodge and Chevy to change models in 2007: Beginning in 2007, Dodge and Chevrolet will campaign new models in Nextel Cup competition, Yahoo! Sports has learned. Dodge will run the Avenger, while Chevrolet will run the Impala SS, according to sources with some of NASCAR's manufacturers. The change also was indicated in a technical bulletin distributed to all teams last week. Both Dodge and Chevy soon will announce that they have been given approval by NASCAR to change to the new models, with Chevy's announcement possibly coming as soon as this week. According to the sources, the stock car version has been approved for use by Dodge teams for both the current Nextel Cup car as well as the Car of Tomorrow version, starting next season. The switch from Monte Carlo to Impala could signal the end of the Monte Carlo name from the Chevrolet lineup, as its rear-drive design is used on its model alone and at the present time, no replacement is on the drawing boards at GM. However, unlike its Dodge counterpart, the Impala SS will only be used by Chevrolet teams for their Car of Tomorrow, according to sources. Manufacturers and NASCAR also are continuing to move forward with plans to change all of the models used in the Busch Series, perhaps as soon as the 2010 season. That change would put smaller, sportier models into competition, like the retro-designed Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger – as well as the Toyota Solara

BOY this is gonna throw a monkey wrench in my race game... new teams, new manufactor,.. two new models.... 16 races with CoT,... picking is gonna be wide open,.. should be a ton of fun.

[AfterShock]

Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

I think I like that idea.

Think that might curtail BuschWhacking?

[Earl]

will it really matter what they call the cars next year since they will all be  the same except for the stickers with Nascrap's wreck of tomorrow

I think Ford should call theirs the Pinto and Chevy the Vega.  For a Dodge, maybe a Omni

Might as well add a few Nissan's Honda's as well as Toyota's

[Racergiant]

This is really gonna stick it to the teams......

They are barely gonna be able to tune the car for speed and aero then the manufacturer yanks it out from underneath of them.

I guess the teams are not required to run the current model car - but - that means lack of factory support...

[AfterShock]

will it really matter what they call the cars next year since they will all be  the same except for the stickers with Nascrap's wreck of tomorrow

I think Ford should call theirs the Pinto and Chevy the Vega.  For a Dodge, maybe a Omni

Might as well add a few Nissan's Honda's as well as Toyota's

...........

I agree with you to a point Earl.
I think Chevy should run the Nova body.

Other than that, we're on the same page.


****For our non-Spanish speaking posters..............

NO VA = No Go.

It's twue!
It's twue! 

[flamehothead]

I would LOVE to see The car's have their own template like it used to be. They could get rid of this common body BULL&#$? and race stockcars again. It was great racing when they had the Lumina,Grand Prix,and T-Bird. Make a template for the present manufactures and when you show up it better fit. Sorry another FLASHBACK LOL .

[Chris]

This is really gonna stick it to the teams......

They are barely gonna be able to tune the car for speed and aero then the manufacturer yanks it out from underneath of them.

I guess the teams are not required to run the current model car - but - that means lack of factory support...

You got thats right RG,...
thats why I posted the thread so we could discuss it.
You picked up on my point right off the bat...
TO take matter a step further,... you got Chevy/Dodge teams gonna have to go to 'off' tracks and do testing so they can try and get the aero right on these new models,.. but all in the mean while they gonna have to find time to ALSO TEST the new CoT cars.
I think Ford may be head a shoulders above the rest of the pack next season.  Toyota "could" be the next best (if they had any decent drivers/teams)... but body/car wise they'll have just 1/2 the work, thats for sure.
Might see Roush with 4 of 5 cars in the chase again.

While were on the subject I think it was just stupid for Nascar to NOT run the CoT in the first Dega race in 2007.  Teams gotta spend $200,000+ to build a car JUST for that ONE race,... then it is no good in the fall because the CoT will be used.
The Dega cars and Daytona cars are similar but different... so different cars/chassis are built for each one.   Gee,.. I though Nascar was interested in SAVING teams money.

NOW they say the COT will be used in Daytona for the Bud ShootOut or something,... so gotta build a car there thats not any good any more until 2008.
NO matter what Nascar says,... NO teams will use the same body at Daytona, and Bristol, and Dover, and Atlanta,.... It's all just smoke and mirror.