It’s the end of an era. The iconic Chevrolet Camaro sails off into the sunset. A car that has won championships and become one of the leading vehicles in Chevy’s arsenal not just in NASCAR, but in the international car market will be discontinued. More importantly, for NASCAR, fans might have a shakeup on their hands.

With the discontinuation of the Camaro, some fans begged Chevrolet to switch over to the Cadillac after images of a possible NASCAR edition of the car began circulating online.

Now, race cars aren’t exactly like normal on-road passenger vehicles, but the branding makes a huge difference. For these OEMs to sell what they are promoting on the racetrack, they need to promote the body design for their cars. While NASCAR cannot force Chevrolet to discontinue the Camaro model, the car will not have any Camaro branding. This means the essential slogan of NASCAR, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” is essentially redundant for the car. 

At the same time, some users on X began circulating an image of a Cadillac in full NASCAR regalia. It gave off a similar feeling to the Camaro turned ZL1 being used at the moment in the Cup Series. What makes these rumors stronger for fans is Cadillac’s entry into F1. It shows General Motors is ready to take on new challenges in the motorsports world. If they are ready to jump into the high-stakes world of F1 in Europe, an entry into NASCAR wouldn’t be a long shot.

More importantly, Chevrolet and its parent company GM lack a car that represents their brand. Sure, while fans would be upset if Chevrolet left the NASCAR sphere if Cadillac took their spot, it would soothe the NASCAR community. Some think Cadillac would even be a better option than foreign manufacturers like Honda and Hyundai entering the sport with their cars.

Not everyone is sold on the idea of Cadillac stepping into NASCAR, though. It’s no secret that Chevrolet has a rich motorsports heritage, playing a key role in IMSA’s history. Whether it’s the Chevrolet Grand Prix at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park or iconic vehicles like the Chevrolet Corvette GTP, Chevrolet has left its mark. Chevrolet’s Corvette GTP raced in the IMSA Camel GT series from 1984 to 1989, laying the groundwork for future innovations. Chevrolet’s commitment to excellence on the track is evidenced by models like the Corvette C5-R, which won back-to-back GT Le Mans titles in 2020 and 2021. In spec racing, the brand has shined, with Chevrolet V8 engines in the Oreca FLM09 Prototype Challenge from 2014 to 2017.

Let’s see what the fans have to say about a possible Cadillac entry into the sport.

The NASCAR direction Chevrolet is taking has divided fans

Chevrolet’s decision to stick with the Camaro design for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has sparked strong fan reactions, ranging from calls for drastic change to support for the status quo. “Scrap the Camaro. This is what they use from now on,” one fan quipped. 

Remember Austin Dillon’s dramatic overtime win at the 2024 Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway? In that race, Dillon collided with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, securing a controversial playoff spot and sparking comparisons to Chevrolet’s lingering commitment to the Camaro. “Logano looks in the mirror to see the big grin on the grill of that Caddy just before Dillon sends him into the wall,” joked another fan referring to the incident, predicting a Cadillac-dominated NASCAR in the future.

The potential entry of Cadillac, another GM brand, into NASCAR, has been met with mixed reactions. “I can’t explain why, but I’m glad they did not try to use Cadillac,” one fan said. The IMSA Cadillac V-LMDh was brilliant in endurance racing, but they questioned its fit in NASCAR, arguing that replacing Chevrolet’s name wouldn’t be right. The manufacturer’s legacy in the sport is unrivaled. First introduced in 1955 with Herb Thomas’ 1955 Chevrolet 150, the company has made quite a name for itself. It has over 814 Cup Series race wins, 40 Manufacturers’ titles, and 33 drivers titles. Seeing it exit NASCAR simply due to a branding issue would be a heart-break for the community. 

The Camaro’s continued presence offers comfort to those who value Chevrolet’s motorsports heritage. A fan said, “It actually looks great.” Others noted the design’s similarity to past Cadillac models. “I like this. Looks like a larger XLR,” noted another fan, nodding to the Cadillac XLR’s rare and high-performance heritage. Although Cadillac discontinued the XLR years ago due to dwindling sales, NASCAR may be the perfect platform to bring it back into the public eye.