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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.
Currently, the four automakers who compete in both the Busch and Cup
series use cars that are either identical or of the same class of cars.
Fords runs the Fusion and Toyota the Camry in both series, while Dodge
uses the Charger in Busch and the Avenger in Cup, and Chevy campaigns
Monte Carlos in Busch and Impala SS models in Cup.
The Busch Series has been something of a dichotomy in recent years. On
one hand, NASCAR claims it’s the second-most popular form of auto racing in America, but on the other hand it’s lost some of its uniqueness as
the Busch have become more populated by Nextel Cup regulars and less by
young drivers looking to work their way up to Nextel Cup.
Sources familiar with the project said NASCAR has discussed the idea of
switching cars with the manufacturers and has received a positive
reception for the idea.
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