Do You Drive the Same Toyota Camry Car as NASCAR Drivers Do?

There was a time when our parents and grandparents used to drive the same cars as NASCAR drivers did back in the day. But one might ask, “Hey, I have the same car as Denny Hamlin, a Toyota Camry, doesn’t that mean I also drive the same car as my favorite driver?”

Well, the answer to that question is, no.

This is because, over the years, the word ‘stock’ has slowly disappeared from ‘stock car racing’. Gone are the days when everyday people, including drivers, would walk into a dealership and buy the same car that followed traffic rules just as it fiercely drove on ovals. And along with that, this also meant that cars were also different from each other.

But as the sport progressed, every car slowly became the same as the other because of regulations and performance reasons. In fact, according to Rookie Road, “the overall shape of each of the cars, the tires, suspensions, fueling systems, electronics, and transmissions are all exactly the same.” 

Yet, this is about to change; not radically, but considerably.

NASCAR and the Next Gen car could take us back to the old days

One of the major upgrades the Next Gen car, the new generation of cars that is replacing the Gen 6 will bring to the table, is that it aims to bridge the gap between stock cars and cars on sale in dealerships.

Andy Petree, the crew chief of driver Tyler Reddick said of the coming generation of cars, “It’s more relatable and really resembles what you see in showrooms.” He added, “That keeps manufacturers very interested and motivated in the sport.”

Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports said, “A lot of work has been done behind the scenes to make sure this Next Gen Mustang remains relevant to our customers.”

So, keeping every natural reason why race cars have to differ from everyday cars, the Next Gen will make sure that difference is as minimum as it can be.

Also Read: Have Any NASCAR Drivers Won the Cup Series Title Without Winning a Race?