Chevrolet's New 2022 Camaro Race Car Looks and Drives More Like a Street Camaro

The major automotive competitors in NASCAR are releasing their Next Generation models. Why the 2022 NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro will look and handle much more like the stock performance 2022 Camaro.

NASCAR is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and starting next year, the NASCAR 2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race car will look and handle a lot more like the version that you can buy on dealer lots. That is the whole idea behind NASCAR, the race vehicles are supposed to be stock vehicles. Over the years, however, the vehicles have become interchangeable shells with elaborate graphics.

All of the major brands in the racing sport are revealing their new designs. Chevrolet took great pains to make sure that the new race car more closely resembles the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 you can buy.

“Chevrolet engineers and designers worked alongside our race teams to develop this race car while staying true to the styling essence of the Camaro ZL1,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports. “This cooperation will benefit Chevrolet both on the track and the street.”

How the Next Gen Will Be More Like the Stock Camaro ZL1

One of the first things that fans will notice is that both the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car and the production Camaro ZL1 have hood air vents that enhance track performance. The Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car has a shortened deck lid and a wider body which is shaped more like a street Camaro. The symmetrical body design makes the race car look even more like the production Camaro.

When The 2022 Next Gen Camaro Will Race

The new 2022 Camaro race car will debut at the 2022 Daytona 500, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 20, 2022.

The race car will drive much more like a street Camaro ZL1. It will have a new independent rear suspension, like production Camaros. The race version will also have rack and pinion steering.

“The Next Gen Camaro has a much stronger link to the production Camaro ZL1 in terms of styling integration, improved proportions and relevant technologies,” said Eric Warren, Chevrolet director of NASCAR Programs. “From an engineering standpoint, this is a seismic shift. It’s a completely new car that brings with it a lot of opportunity from a technical standpoint.”

Other Important Changes to the Race Car

The 2022 Next Gen Camaro ZL1 will sport larger wheels which means it can handle larger brakes. The wheels will be made from forged aluminum just like the wheels on the street version. The race car has a redesigned chassis with new front and rear bumpers and a sealed underbody for better aerodynamics.

Chevrolet has won the most often in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Chevrolet initially introduced the Camaro ZL1 race car to NASCAR Cup competition in 2018. It was replaced by the Camaro ZL1 1LE race car in 2020. Chevrolet will offer a behind the scenes look at the 2022 Next Gen Camaro ZL1 race car on Saturday, May 8, at 8 p.m. the free broadcast will air on its Chevy MyWay website.

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