Chevrolet has joined the party. After NASCAR unveiled its prototype, showing fans what an electric stock car would look like, Ford followed through by showcasing their own EV crossover recently. Now, Chevy has followed the trend with a demonstrator of their own ahead of the season-opening Daytona 500. While their new car isn’t meant to race another EV, it’s a preview of what can be expected from Chevy in the event an electric stock car racing series becomes a reality.

NASCAR remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint even though fans love the roar of the V8 internal combustion engine. This means that electric vehicles are an inevitable reality of the stock car racing world and Chevrolet is making sure it’ll be prepared when the time comes.

NASCAR is one step closer to its zero carbon footprint dream

Chevrolet is continuing to push its limits. The American manufacturer unveiled the Blazer EV NASCAR prototype ahead of ‘The Great American Race’ as they continue to test, explore, and learn the new technology at their disposal, which can eventually be used in production cars and race programs. The prototype features a programmable all-wheel-drive system and Goodyear Racing Eagle tires, delivering 1300 horsepower from six-phase electric motors. Talk about developing a fast car, right?

Eric Warren, executive director of Global Motorsports Competition for General Motors, shared his thoughts about the new Chevy prototype by saying, “While we will continue to race our proven and winning V8 technology in NASCAR for years to come, we continually look for ways to improve the combination of power, durability, and efficiency to transfer learnings from the racetrack to the showroom, especially as we bolster Chevy’s consumer EV lineup.”

Chevy’s new prototype takes some getting used to. According to 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier, “There are so many things you don’t think about until you’re in the car actually testing it.” Regenerative braking affects cornering balance, and not being able to listen to engine revs might take some time for drivers to get used to. However, the prototype is a step in the right direction, as the company is looking to be prepared if an all-electric racing program comes to fruition in the future.

Chevrolet will also be featuring its Blazer EV SS as the pace car at the 67th Daytona 500. With 615 horsepower, the vehicle can go from 0.60 in just 3.4 seconds using Wide Open Watts technology and will be driven by actor Alan Ritchson as the honorary pace car driver. While plenty of fans will eye the EV with apprehension at the ‘World Center of Racing’, NASCAR is quietly optimistic. The sanctioning body will hope that the appearance, sheer speed, and performance will help convert the so-called ‘purists’ to embrace EVs for a more sustainable future.

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Another EV prototype might be on the way

Last month, Ford unveiled a new electric NASCAR prototype which is a crossover from the road-going Mach E. While it borrows many of the components from a Next-Gen Mustang such as suspension, brakes, steering rack, and wheels, a carbon fiber body to reduce weight means the car is lightning-fast on a racetrack. While official numbers have not been released yet, it’s well within the realm of possibility that the vehicle has over 1500 horsepower, highlighting that lack of speed won’t be a problem the car will be facing.

However, now that Ford and Chevy have had their say, that leaves Toyota to come up with a prototype of its own. The Japanese manufacturer is also said to have an electric SUV-based race car in the works, which has been inspired by the bZ4X since it’s the only EV sold in the United States by the company. While the Blazer and Mustang Mach-E have many sporty elements incorporated in the overall design, it will be interesting to see if Toyota can follow suit and make an attractive car of its own.

In all likelihood, the Toyota prototype will rival Ford and Chevy in terms of performance, which is what ultimately matters on the racetrack. With NASCAR toying with the idea of an all-electric racing series, the three manufacturers of the sport developing prototypes in anticipation of the sport’s next transition will be an encouraging sign. However, the biggest question is if NASCAR fans would warm up to the idea of electric vehicles in their beloved sport. That would decide the long-term fate of the vehicles in stock car racing. What do you think? Are EVs the way to go?