NASCAR Next Gen car set for official reveal with manufacture body shapes

Each NASCAR manufacture is set to release the shape of their Next Gen car

The NASCAR Next Gen chassis has been in development for over a year. However, we’ve yet to see what the car will actually look like.

So far, each test has been conducted with a generic nose and a generic rear deck. The manufacture specific designs have not been released.

NASCAR has teased graphics calling it, “NASCAR’s return to ‘Stock’ Car Racing.”

On May 5th, the body shapes for the Ford, Chevy and Toyota makes will be released. Additionally, new elements of the car will be announced.

NASCAR Next Gen Changes

The car features a front splitter that is off the ground and a rear diffuser. Both elements are designed to reduce aerodynamic dependencies on a trailing car.

The body is made of carbon components. The idea is that drivers will be able to make more contact with competitors without the risk of pushing in the fenders and causing a tire rub.

Under the body, each manufacture will run the same chassis. Teams will no longer be developing a chassis as each car will be the same from team to team.

The suspension now features independent rears. The tires are much larger, allowing Goodyear to develop softer compounds that fall off and create better racing.

Due to the loads on the rim, NASCAR has gone to a single and much larger lug nut. This will also reduce the time it takes to make a pit stop and possibly reduce the number of crew members needed.

Development of the new car was declared as concluded back in February. NASCAR continues to test with the Next Gen chassis, however these recent tests are conducted with Goodyear as the focus to develop tire compounds.

The car was on track earlier this week at Darlington Raceway. Tyler Reddick crashed it.

The three manufactures will be released in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The NASCAR Next Gen car was originally schedule for it’s competition debut in 2021. Due to the pandemic, the development was pushed back with a release date of 2022.

The Next Gen chassis will be run in the NASCAR cup Series via the 2022 Daytona 500. It’s expected to be run in every race to follow though some questions have surfaced on if the car will be used for the 2022 Bristol Dirt Race.

NASCAR Next Gen
Photos

Photos from: Darlington Raceway (April 2021)

Links

Ford Performance | Team Chevy | Toyota Racing Development | NASCAR

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