What Are The Types Of Cars In NASCAR?

The cars featured in NASCAR races are what make the sport distinctive. NASCAR race cars feature flashy colors and eye-catching designs. Constant advancements in engineering and technology make them increasingly effective tools for the amazing athletes that NASCAR drivers use in competition. However, many don’t know the background behind these cars: how they are made, what makes them different from street legal cars, and the differences between different race cars.

Generation 7

Making its debut for the 2022 Cup Series season, the Generation 7 car is the current generation of stock cars used in NASCAR races. The three models of cars used as nameplates in the series are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Toyota Camry. The three manufacturers design and build their own engines. However, in a first for the Gen-7 car, the chassis, bodies, and most parts are manufactured by independent single-source suppliers. The decision to use a single supplier for these items is part of a greater initiative to keep costs down in the Cup Series in the interest of greater parity.

Notable changes from the Generation 6 car include greater chassis rigidity and larger, 18-inch wheels and tires which are meant to evoke the ones on the street cars with which the Generation 7 cars share their nameplates. Although the chassis, transmissions, and bodies were completely redesigned for the Generation 7 cars, the engines are the same 5.86 liter V8 pushrod models that were used in the previous generation’s cars. Many speculate that this decision was made to facilitate the adoption of hybrid or electric power plants mid-generation.

Generation 6

The Generation 6 car was used by NASCAR from 2013 until 2022. The design behind this specific generation had an interesting motive behind it; this car was designed to more closely resemble the street-legal versions released by the manufacturers. 

The brands of NASCAR Generation 6 cars were Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota. However, these brands all used their own specific model. In 2012, Ford released its decision to use the second generation of the Ford Fusion, Toyota elected to continue using the 2013 edition Camry, and Chevrolet decided to use the Holden Commodore GM rebranded as the Chevrolet SS. These new additions to NASCAR replaced predecessors such as the 2012 Dodge Charger (Dodge initially planned to use the Charger for Generation 6, however, ended up withdrawing from NASCAR due to unsuccessful attempts to get others to switch to their car), the 2012 and 2008 Chevrolet Impalas, and the 2010 Toyota Camry from Generation 5. 

As the years passed, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet all updated their models for their Generation 6 cars. Toyota updated the body of their stock car to match the 2015 Camry and then later to the 2018 Camry. Chevrolet updated its car to the 2018 Camaro ZL1. Ford replaced the Fusion with the Mustang GT. 

There are many key differences between this generation and Generation 5. These cars had aero adjustments, as well as many safety features. These safety features included roof bars and an increase in the size of roof flaps to prevent cars from flipping. Despite this, there have still been instances of flips with Generation 6 cars. Other additions include the use of Carbon Fiber and Kevlar to make up the hood and deck lid, as well as the incorporation of a digital dashboard (this was the addition that made these stock cars more similar to street legal vehicles). 

This generation of NASCAR stock cars was originally planned to be retired after 2020. However, the release of the Generation 7 car was postponed until 2022 due to complications as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Previous Generations

The newest generation of NASCAR stock cars introduced many new features, but what were the previous generations like?

Generation 1

Generation 1 included cars such as the 1955 Hudson Hornet and 1965 Ford Galaxie. This generation of cars actually included doors that had to be strapped shut during races, as regulations required cars to have a stock car frame and body. These cars had a rear axle designed to prevent flips, but they were still dangerous, and many accidents occurred. 

Generation 2

Generation 2 of NASCAR stock cars kept the stock body but had a modified frame. This generation included cars such as the 1967 Ford Fairlane, the 1973 Dodge Charger, and the 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 

Generation 3

Generation 3 reduced the wheelbase of the cars. The cars were also downsized to minimize differences between the stock cars and the ones on showroom floors. This generation included cars such as the 1981 Buick Regal, 1985 Ford Thunderbird, 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix, and the 1981 Chevrolet Lumina. 

Generation 4

Generation 4 included molded fiberglass used for the bumper and nose, as well as a heavily modified body. The cars used in this generation of NASCAR included the 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the 1998 Ford Taurus, the 2006 Ford Fusion, and the 2001 Dodge Intrepid. 

Generation 5

Generation 5 introduced a new era of safety, as well as new aero adjustment options made possible by the front splitter and rear wing. 

Throughout the years, the NASCAR stock car model has been continuously critiqued, adjusted, and improved as technology advances as well as the sport itself. This incorporation of technology makes NASCAR one of the sports with the most potential for evolution and improvement in the future in terms of both entertainment and safety for the drivers. This is one of NASCAR’s biggest strengths as a sport.

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