Nationwide COT won't debut until at least 2010
NASCAR says it will test its new version of the Nationwide Series car Monday and Tuesday at Richmond International Raceway but will not begin using the car until at least 2010.
In a news release announcing the test, NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton indicated that the teams could not afford a midseason change next year, which NASCAR was considering.
“We’re still in the process of approving the cars,” Pemberton said. “This wasn’t a quick process on the NASCAR Sprint Cup side, and it won’t be with these cars. We’ve also been talking to teams, and they’ve indicated they’d be better suited budget-wise to spend a full season building cars instead of a midyear transition.
“We’ve had this style of chassis for more than two years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and many questions have already been answered. In applying the new car to the Nationwide Series, we fully anticipate the teams to be as competitive and resourceful as possible throughout the developmental process.”
Each manufacturer will be permitted to bring two cars to the test, but the participating drivers have not been named.
The new Nationwide car is slightly different from the Cup car. Among the differences, the Nationwide car is expected to have a rear spoiler instead of a wing.
"We've got some work ahead of us in finalizing all of the parts and pieces in working with the manufacturers but all indications are we should be done in 2009 for competition to begin in 2010," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.
