Pony Cars Coming To Busch Series

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Written by: Tom Jensen


Loudon, N.H. – 9/15/2007
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 and help remove the stigma of the series as “Cup Lite,” as some call it now.

“That way, out top three divisions each have their own models,” said a NASCAR source, who said the new models will be built on the old-style NASCAR Nextel Cup chassis, which are in plentiful supply as the Cup Car of Tomorrow will make the older Cup cars obsolete next year.

(more at link) http://www.speedtv.com/articles/nascar/busch/40293/

[Bvonscott]

Great idea, bring back the mucle wars! But WTF is toyota doing in this!? They have never had a muscle car, have no history like the other three, and what V8 sports car do they sell or are gunna sell (not inc Lexus). NONE! Freakin B.S.!

[FISH]

Well Toyota uses a Camry in NASCAR, so the next step down would be a Corolla.

So in there is a chance that one day the Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers
will be beaten by a Corolla.

[jkennedy293]

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

Great idea, bring back the mucle wars! But WTF is toyota doing in this!? They have never had a muscle car, have no history like the other three, and what V8 sports car do they sell or are gunna sell (not inc Lexus). NONE! Freakin B.S.!

They could bring back the Supra or the old RWD Celica.

[EldoFan]

Isn't Toyota developing some lightweight RWD sports car?? Or am I just getting Toyota and Hyundai confused?

Either way, I have complete confidence in my Big 3

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Cool. I would also welcome a return of the Trans Am Series. We have the Rolex Series, ALMS; and the Trans Am Series would make for a nice way to showcase these cars in a road racing environment.

Uhh, I am now a much bigger fan of road course racing vs. the "roundy-round". Much of that is because I took a Road Couse Driving School a couple summers ago. And part of that is because Dale died. I now have a better appreciation of what guys like Jan Magnussen, Max Pappis, Alex Angellili and Alan McNish deal with.

Road racing is much more technically demanding than NASCAR or Busch. And much more exciting to watch becuse the drivers have to make good downshifts, make good turn ins and hit their apex.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

Isn't Toyota developing some lightweight RWD sports car??

Rumor has it Toyota is either working on a Lexus IS 350, or a Corvette-priced Supra.

[Slack]

My bet is that they use the same frame, or a slightly modified version, and all of the cars wiil have the same body. They will use grill and headlight stickers to differentiate the different models. That is what they do in the Nextel Cup Series and the Craftsman truck series and there is no reason to suspect they will do any different for the revised Busch series.

[Texan-CST/10]

Eldo Fan-Toy is expected to bring back the formula of the AE86, buy Hundai is much closer with their RWD car.

[cincygoblue]

Wow is this going to be a boon to Toyota!!!!!!!!!!!!! To bad.

They won't even have to build a reputation. They can race the Toyota Whatsitcalled and "Bam" instant marketing. Anyone watching a race will know Toyota is bringing out a car to compete with Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. Even though they've never had a pony car. They won't even need to advertize it. And if they win a race or 2, it gives the "real" car instant credibility even though there may be absolutely NO relationship between the racecar and the production version, other than that the stickers on the racecar look like the headlights on the production car.

Don't know how Toyota managed to convince NASCAR on this one, but it'll be good for them.

[GMusa]

Toyota just needs to be booted from NASCAR all together!!!!! ppl need to go on strike or something or get a petition going!

[Quattro]

Nice, It'll be the Camaro, Challenger, and Mustang against the Prius, LMAO!!!!!!! DOWN WITH YODA!!!!!

[coaster.n3rd]

This is great news.. If Busch really pulls this off, it may shift viewership. Hopefully it will be enough to teach Nascar a thing or two and bring real cars back to the series.

[E. Haskell]

Toyota could use the Solara if they're still making it.

[Texan-CST/10]

Originally Posted by Quattro

DOWN WITH YODA!!!!!