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Introduction of Nationwide Series COT could be pushed back to 2011
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Monday, April 13, 2009
NASCAR may hold off on the introduction of the Nationwide Series car of tomorrow until 2011.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
LEBANON, Tenn. – Work on the NASCAR Nationwide Series car of tomorrow is proceeding, though the sanctioning body’s ban on nearly all testing for 2009 could push the introduction of the new car back to 2011.
Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway that Toyota’s version of the car, the Camry, will return to the wind tunnel for testing this week. The other three manufacturers who take part in the series have all had their versions certified aerodynamically.
The car has been officially tested on the race track twice, but both tests were last year. And given the struggling U.S. economy, many in the Nationwide garage want NASCAR to hold off another year before rolling the car out.
Balash said the sanctioning body will listen to opinions of teams before making a decision. The original introduction was planned for August of this year, but that was pushed back to 2010. Now the car could be held off until 2011.
“We still need to get back on a track,” Balash said. “We still haven’t been to a superspeedway. We still need to get that put on the docket and do that. Based upon the feedback we get from the teams, [we’ll] make our decisions probably early summer on whether it’s 2010 or 2011.”
Some have suggested the car be finalized this year, with testing to begin again late in 2009, with a full slate of testing in 2010 and introduction in 2011. That way, teams can have more than a year to build up inventories of cars and parts before the model is used in competition.
NASCAR has repeatedly said it will rely on the opinions of the garage so the timing of the car’s introduction makes sense.
“At the end of last year, we were really looking at going and testing everywhere and doing a lot of things,” Balash said. “When we put the brakes on with the whole process because the economics of everything were changing, that kind of made us revisit the start date on that project.
“We still have to keep a look at the economics of things, and if things start loosening up, maybe 2010 is the right way to go.”
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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12 responses to "Introduction of Nationwide Series COT could be pushed back to 2011". Post a Comment.
Bernie said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:52 AMIf the Nationwide series goes to the COT, fan base is going to be even less.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHoward Englishman said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:24 PMI don't think the COT has anything to do with the lack of attendance at the tracks. People just don't have the money. The Nationwide version of the COT ran some great lap times last year in Richmond. Its a good car.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKeith Johnson said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 2:39 PMNationwide does not need COT cars. It needs Cup drivers to stay out of the line ups. Nationwide is a watered down Cup race and attendance shows it. Most fans are staying home because the fact NA$CAR is greedy, COT look alikes, football type playoffs and rules. The attendance was down before the economy went bad. If you and NASCAR don't think so you will find out as this season and the following seasons come and go.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsteve songer said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 2:47 PMIf that Challenger pictured above runs as the Dodge version of the N'wide COT, it will need some serious aero-tweeking to keep up with the Toyos, Fords & Bowties. Frankly I'd like to see 'Cup and N'wide brought up off the track a ways and blunted up a bit on the nose, I think it would make better racing, especially at RP tracks. Love that REAL draft.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBill Parhamenko said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 2:53 PMThe COT may or may not be the main reason track attendance is going down, but I think that is is a factor. I believe that it is a major factor along with the other changes, the chase,the lucky dog, the qualifing rules etc. why the tv ratings continue to go down with every race. If Brian France and NASCAR was smart and with all the changes they have made recently, I do not think that they are, would not only not bring the COT to the Nationwide series, they should not use it in the Srint Cup Series any longer. Unless of course their objective is to drive the fans away from the Nationwide series like they are doing to the Sprint Cup series. Keep it up NASCAR and before you know it, nobody will be wathing any NASCAR races in any series.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJeffrie Mitchell said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 3:56 PMOther than the noticeable cosmetic changes to the nationwide cars, I wonder what other changes they will be making. Like wheelbase, car height,width. Having to certify everything. These cars are going to the way side of "stock cars"
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 4:01 PMi once cared about what they raced on the trak when the cars looked somewhat like i could buy...since they went to the aero cars...who cars what they look like...put what ever mfg sticker you want to on them...just give me more side by side racing...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 6:56 PMNascar and Brian France are the most ignorant people in the world. The people that support them are telling them what we want to see and pay for yet they still choose to ignore us. I buy tickets to Memphis every year but this will probably be the last. It is not the economy keeping me away. It is simply Nascar. The races suck, the COT sucks, if nascar would go back to a rules package that let racers be racers they would regain their fan base.I understand the safety issue and I'm all for that. But, we want to see good old school racing. I enjoy ARCA, Hooters Pro Cup, and others, these guys are racing, rubbin' and just puttin' on a good show.No I am not a guy who likes to see wrecks but I also don't like follow the leader. The Nationwide series and trucks used to be my favorite but now it's all about the same. Thank you Nascar for taking away my favorite American Sport!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportLee Pflug said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:29 PMHurry up and bring it on NASCAR. You have screwed up everything else, why not the Nationwide series. Better uet why not just build a bunch of cars and rent them to the teams. That way you know who will win!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportLee Pflug said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:29 PMHurry up and bring it on NASCAR. You have screwed up everything else, why not the Nationwide series. Better uet why not just build a bunch of cars and rent them to the teams. That way you know who will win!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMaryJo Duncan said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:31 PMI agree...NASCARS popularity in the Sprint Cup took a MAJOR tumble wen the COT was brought about...They should think twice about doing this bc they are gonna lose MORE fans bc of this!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbill thompson said:
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:51 AMstart writing obits for the nationwide series
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