The Chevy Camaro ZL1 Is Coming to NASCAR

Chevy’s street-legal track monster has been turned into a stock car.

byGabriel Loewenberg|
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Chevrolet announced Thursday that it's bringing the Camaro ZL1 to the  Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018. At the end of 2017, Chevrolet is retiring the Chevrolet SS from the top-tier NASCAR series. 2017 will also saw the end of the production version of the SS, but it will continue to race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The might Camaro ZL1 will take it place at the top of the food chain. 

“Chevrolet, Camaro and ZL1 are all synonymous with winning, both on and off the track," said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development, at the unveiling, which took place at Chevrolet's Detroit headquarters." We are thrilled to run Camaro in NASCAR next year, with the time-honored and track-tested ZL1 badge, and we’re just as excited for our drivers, teams, fans and customers.”

NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson was also on hand. He'll be driving the new ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports next year.

“The new Camaro ZL1 is a great-looking race car with a lot of heritage behind it, which will make it a big hit with fans,” said Johnson. “And as someone who’s enjoyed the ZL1 on the street, I’m really looking forward to getting this new race car on the track.” 

The street legal Camaro ZL1 is powered by Chevy's supercharged LT4 V8 that puts 650 horsepower. When the ZL1 hits the track in NASCAR-spec early next year, it'll be packing a naturally aspirated V8 that's good for 725 hp. In NASCAR trim, it'll weigh roughly 500 pounds less than the production version, coming in at no less than 3,450 pounds (including fuel and the driver). That's going to be one quick Camaro.

The good folks at Chevrolet did an outstanding job with the styling of the NASCAR ZL1. It is unmistakably a Camaro while still being a hulking NASCAR. The car will make its on-track debut in February during Daytona Speedweeks. With this car on track and Dale Jr. in the broadcast booth, NASCAR should be a lot of fun next year.

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