How you can tell that all NASCAR machines look too much alike
As NASCAR has tightened the aerodynamic restrictions on cars over the past decade to the point where they now use common templates for all "makes" of cars, they have become increasingly difficult to distinguish. Now it appears that even Chrysler can't tell its own cars apart. For the past couple of years the Dodge cars were branded as Chargers, but the advent of the "Car of Tomorrow" this year brought the new Avenger to NASCAR. It can be confusing -- just ask Chysler. The photo above of Dario Franchitti making his NASCAR debut appeared on the Chrysler's Firehouse media blog. Compare the photo caption to the label on the nose of the car and you'll see what we mean.
[Source: Chrysler]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Doug 9:09AM (10/11/2007)
HA... caption says Avenger and car says Charger! It's all about the details!
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pmalik 9:10AM (10/11/2007)
The only reason why nascar is on tv is becaue they can slap ad on any surface over square inch.
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nissanfreak87 10:12AM (10/11/2007)
or how about the 40 something million fans that it has, that could probably have something to do with why it's on TV
mdm-adph 1:00PM (10/11/2007)
So... were those fans there before NASCAR was on TV? No.
Don't full yourself into thinking that the industry isn't capable of producing its own hype by shoving programming down people's throats until they like it.
nissanfreak87 1:37PM (10/11/2007)
ok, I won't "full" (correct spelling fool) myself into thinking that, sure the industry was helped to it's current size by just the fans, but last time checked companies don't sponsor things that don't have a fan base. The fans were there, and now that it's available to more and more people, more and more people like it.
if you don't like it on TV, change the channel, go watch poker or something
CMDR 9:10AM (10/11/2007)
'parently the big three been usin' that common template - they've got one for the trucks, one for suvs, and one for cars..
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Andy Johnston 9:18AM (10/11/2007)
That car is not a Nascar car, it is an ARCA car. Completley different sanctioning body and rules. Nascar has zero say in the ARCA series. It is a simple PR mistake and nothing more, I have seen it happen many times.
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Vivek 9:19AM (10/11/2007)
Ahhh how surprising, let's bitch on NASCAR thread by autoblog? Very original.
The nextel cup series uses the avenger, but in the ARCA series where this picture is from they use the charger model. Somebody used the now more common avenger to label the picture.
So now we are posting threads because of a caption mistake? If we follow this trend AB has to make "funny" posts about itself all day for the grammar and mistakes they themselves type up.
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rjmhotrod 9:51AM (10/11/2007)
I agree it's just a captioning mistake but you do have to admit it's funny seeing as how it says "Charger" in big white letters right on the front of the car.
atreyu.owns 2:18PM (10/11/2007)
wrong, NASCAR as of right now uses both the Charger and Avenger. the Avenger is used for the COT and the Charger is for non-COT races.
Chevy does the same exact thing with the Impala and Monte Carlo.
as of next year, this wont be an issue since the COT will be constantly used and the Monte will be fully filtered out of American's lives.
Menice 9:20AM (10/11/2007)
that's that good. wish they'd revamp nascar. new mustangs, chargers, ect.
i know the job is cool, the car is cool,
but i'd feel like such a weenie dressed like that... esp. with the target on my chest, and are those cataract glasses?
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John P. 9:39AM (10/11/2007)
Ever since Bill Elliot ran away from the field of bricks from gm too many times in his "aero" thunderbird they've been trying to get all the cars looking the same. It used to be called "Stock" car racing for a reason. It would be cool if they got back to that a bit.
It's just about unwatchable now unless I am really well stocked with beer and the choice is between nascar, pro-tour Bowling, or mowing the lawn.
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David 11:23AM (10/11/2007)
This is a motorsport that doesn't necessarily improve the breed. I enjoyed watching nascar back in the 80's when the actual showroom cars had live axles, pushrods and carburetors ... similar to the racing cars and similiar to my Oldsmobile Cutlass back then. But technology has marched on and these race cars are now dinosaurs. Last time I heard, these cars were still using the most primitive of parts: live axle, pushrod engines and correct me if I'm wrong .... carburetors .... could that possibly be right? Even if these parts are refined and designed on million dollar computers ... it is still low tech. If they were required to use modified stock cars from a showroom floor and drive them on a drivers race track instead of just an oval ... maybe we would really see some competitive spirit between the big 2.5. But as it is, the only competition is who can sell the most inventory. Sorry to get off track ... but nascar is too over regulated and seems to be just one big commercial now.
Sam 9:45AM (10/11/2007)
you know what we need, a return to stock car racing. this is absolutely ridiculous with these rules and regulations. I want to see a return to the old 'glory' days, where you'd race on sunday and buy on monday. having carbon cutouts of the same vehicle with only stickers of lights and a grille distinguishing cars is absurd. ah, whatever i don't even watch nascar.
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Jay Evans 10:21AM (10/11/2007)
And exaclty with which "production" car would you like to hit a wall at 200 MPH with?
Sam 12:28PM (10/11/2007)
why go 200 mph? and if they were going to, why not make a production spec fusion or charger with the same parts? make it a special edition or a limited production run.
Dodge 9:45AM (10/11/2007)
Someone made a typo, clearly this means nascar arca and every stock car organization needs to be destroyed.
I can't believe autoblog lets garbage like this be posted, this is an automotive news blog, not a message board among buddies.
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CoffeeJedi 2:14PM (10/11/2007)
Maybe you'd be more interested in Dodge's new utility and rescue vehicle, its called the "Waaaaaaaaahmbulance".
rjmhotrod 9:58AM (10/11/2007)
The aero packages and rules have definitely helped the competition factor within NASCAR. Have you ever watched some of those older NASCAR, pre-aero/restrictor plate races? ZZZZZ......
The T-bird walked the dog over all those Regal/Grand Prix/Monte Carlos.
The sport may not be as pure, but it's more interesting - at least to me anyway.
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nissanfreak87 11:03AM (10/11/2007)
It is more interesting now, but back then if there was a better car, the losers would go and spend money to make a better car for racing, and that car was sent to the public, so the public got better cars, to me they're calling it "stock car" racing when it's really just another formula series, I still like it though.
and nice fact checking/grammar/information by AB...riiight