Autoblog

Ford debuts Fusion NASCAR racer that edges closer to stock [w/video]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Design/Style, Racing

The sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar, which will make its competition debut at the 2013 Daytona 500 this weekend, marks the closest thing to a "stock car" that the sport has seen in more than 20 years. No longer using just stickers to distinguish the different brands, the image above shows the lengths NASCAR and automakers went in order to create a racecar design that more closely resembles the individual cars they represent.

Ford, one of the more open and vocal OEMs regarding the Gen6 car's development, is giving us a closer look at its racing version of the Fusion with a pretty revealing side-by-side comparison with last years' racer (click above for an expanded view). Aside from the more realistic front end and production-like body lines, the overall shape, dimensions and proportions have also been designed to give the racecar a more stock appearance. Most of the new racer was designed by the Ford Design Center, which the automaker says was the first time it has been so involved in the design process since the 1960s. Of course, one area the Sprint Cup Fusion really differs from the production Fusion is its Ford Racing 5.8-liter V8 producing around 850 hp. Can you say Fusion SVT?

Scroll down for a quick video from Ford Racing showing a production Fusion morph into a Cup car.

Continue reading Ford debuts Fusion NASCAR racer that edges closer to stock [w/video]

Ford debuts Fusion NASCAR racer that edges closer to stock [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars to get drivers' names across windshield

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Toyota

As the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season wraps up, teams and drivers start preparing for next year and the big changes the sport has in store. All 2013 Sprint Cup cars will get a new look in an attempt to make the cars better resemble the production cars they mimic. As a part of the new design, NASCAR has also changed some of the rules for the paint scheme and decals that are placed on the cars' exteriors.

To keep the automakers happy, teams will no longer be allowed to clutter the front or rear of the cars with sponsorship stickers and logos. Since these are pretty much the only areas in which to distinguish the different makes any more, keeping them clean will make it easier to tell the models apart. Teams will be allowed to place a small logo on the front of the car and the car number on the front and rear fascias, but for the sake of visibility in night races, no decal can cover the headlights or taillights (insert laugh track). The biggest decal change for 2013 is that drivers' last names will now be on a decal across the top of the windshield.

With Dodge pulling out of NASCAR, that leaves just three automakers still involved with the series: Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet. We've already seen the new Fusion and Camry Cup cars, but we'll have to wait until November 29 to see the new Chevrolet SS racer. The newly designed Sprint Cup cars will run for the first time at the 2013 Daytona 500 in February.

Continue reading 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars to get drivers' names across windshield

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars to get drivers' names across windshield originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Danica Patrick prefers being called "pretty" rather than "sexy"

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

As Danica Patrick prepares for her first NASCAR Sprint Cup race next weekend in the Daytona 500, she's apparently taking advantage of the publicity to try to remediate her image. After seven years of promoting her attractiveness with nearly equal billing to her race driving acumen, Patrick has asked the media to quit calling her "sexy."

According to USA Today, Patrick said "If there is a pretty girl, (reporters) don't know how to describe her other than being sexy. It has such a negative connotation to it ... Why can't there be other words for it? Why does it have to be somewhat negatively twisted?"

Patrick was featured in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and has appeared in racy ads for her sponsor GoDaddy.com that also played up her looks. She has also made several "sexiest" lists, including one compiled by Victoria's Secret and two by FHM magazine.

Patrick's big break came in her first Indy 500 appearance, when she became the first woman to lead the race. She finished fourth that year, in the same position she qualified. Patrick raced in the Indy Racing League for seven years, while also competing in ARCA and NASCAR's Nationwide Series in 2010 and 2011 in preparation for this year's transition to Sprint Cup.

PSA: Danica Patrick prefers being called "pretty" rather than "sexy" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge slaps new Charger nose on NASCAR body

Noah Joseph — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Dodge, Racing

2011 Dodge Charger stock car - Click above for high-res image

Boy, they ain't kiddin' when they call a stock car a stock car. You can call it a Ford, a Chevy, a Dodge or even a Toyota... they all look pretty much identical. Except the nose. That's where on "manufacturer" differentiates its cars from the others and lets you know what's sittin' under the hood.

For Dodge's part, they label theirs as a Charger. And with NASCAR introducing a slightly lower nose on the Sprint Cup racers for next season, Dodge found a perfect opportunity to bring the look of their stock cars in line with the new production Charger. The work was carried out in conjunction with Penske Racing, one of only two teams racing Dodge engines this season.

You can check out the solitary image of the 2011 Dodge Charger stock car - whose new mug our own John Neff likens to the grimace that follows a sip of unsweetened lemonade - by clicking here or on the image above, and the statement after the jump, but don't blink or you just might miss it.

[Source: Dodge]

Continue reading Dodge slaps new Charger nose on NASCAR body

Dodge slaps new Charger nose on NASCAR body originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shell signs multi-series sponsorship deal with Penske Racing

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising

For years Marlboro has been nearly synonymous with Penske, its racing cars (in open-wheels especially) adorned with the tobacco company's red-and-white color scheme for decades, even if their name hasn't appeared on the cars since 2005. But after 19 years in racing together, Marlboro parent company Phillip Morris ended its sponsorship of the motor racing dynasty earlier this year. Now it appears that Shell Oil could be taking its place.

The deal, which comes into effect next season, encompasses Penske Racing teams in several series, including the Indy Racing League and both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series in NASCAR, but does not appear to extend to Penske's American Le Mans Series team.

In the Sprint Cup, the Shell deal comes at the expense of Richard Childress Racing (pictured above), which brought in Shell to replace Jack Daniels sponsorship which it lost last year. The Shell and Pennzoil logos will instead adorn the #22 car of Penske's former champion Kurt Busch, while teammate Brad Keselowski's #2 Dodge will continue with Miller Lite sponsorship. In Indy, meanwhile, the sponsorship replaces Penske's longstanding deal with ExxonMobil.

[Source: Autosport]

Shell signs multi-series sponsorship deal with Penske Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kasey Kahne leaving Petty Motorsports, likely landing at Hendrick

Zach Bowman — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Rumormill

Word has it the ever-voracious Hendrick Motorsports is about to sink its teeth into even more talent. Kasey Kahne just announced he won't be renewing his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of this year, meaning the guy probably has his eyes set on making his way to the same team as Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the rest. Needless to say, the internet is rife with rumors of the move.

Kahne currently pilots the No. 9 Budweiser car, and has snapped up 11 wins during his time as a pro-driver. Despite deciding not to re-up with Richard Petty Motorsports, the King himself had nothing but praise and well-wishes for Kahne, so it doesn't look like anyone's left on bad terms.

The only hitch in Kahne's rumored move to Hendrick lies in the fact that the team doesn't have an open slot at the moment, meaning a current Hendricks driver would have to be eying another opportunity elsewhere. That doesn't sound overly likely to us, especially considering that most of the drivers are locked into contracts that run well beyond Kahne's supposed 2012 sign-on deal.

[Source: Fanhouse | Image: Tom Pennington/Getty for NASCAR]

Kasey Kahne leaving Petty Motorsports, likely landing at Hendrick originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota scores first official NASCAR Sprint Cup win

John Neff — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Toyota

Click above for high-res gallery from Kobalt Tools 500

When the clocks ticked over to 2008, Toyota Motorsports VP Jim Aust declared that the Camry would not go winless this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup like it did during its inaugural season last year. Things got off to a good start during qualifying for the Daytona 500 when Toyota went 1-2 in the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race. This past weekend, history repeated itself when Joe Gibbs Racing had a pair of Camry cars go 1-2 again, but this time on race day at the Kobalt Tools 500. Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Camry won last weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with teammate Tony Stewart taking silver, both driving Cup cars festooned with Camry stickers. Not only did Kyle Busch win the race, but he remains atop the points standing after previous points leader Carl Edwards got penalized for something to do with his oil tank lid at last week's race in Las Vegas. Many of the drivers also complained after the race about their tires that were supplied by Goodyear, with Tony Stewart, always ready to give a good quote, saying, "If I were Goodyear, I'd be really embarrassed about this weekend and what they brought us here." Nevertheless, he and teammate Busch pulled out the win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. Looks like it's gonna be a good year for the imports in NASCAR.

Gallery: Kobalt Tools 500

[Source: MSN.foxsports.com, Photos by John Harrelson, Chris McGrath, Chris Gaythen, Chris Trotman/Getty]]

Toyota scores first official NASCAR Sprint Cup win originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daytona 500: Jimmie Johnson wins pole, Earnhardt Jr. takes Bud Shootout

John Neff — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Regardless of whether or not you're a NASCAR fan, there's no denying that the motorsport is starting off its 2008 season in the best possible way. Early festivities for the season opener Daytona 500 began this past weekend and resulted in Jimmie Johnson, last season's champion, taking the pole position. Next to him on the grid will be a somewhat redeemed Michael Waltrip, who was embroiled in a scandal at last year's Daytona 500 that resulted in the largest ever fine handed down from NASCAR at the time.

That would probably be enough for a great kick off to the season, but the newly minted NASCAR Sprint Cup is swimming in merchandise sales after Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Bud Shootout on Saturday in his first race as a member of Hendrick Motorsports. Driving his new No. 88 Chevy, Earnhardt Jr. came out swinging in this exhibition that nets no points for the winner, but is a good omen for winning the 500 next weekend.

[Source: ESPN, Photo by John Harrelson/Getty]

Daytona 500: Jimmie Johnson wins pole, Earnhardt Jr. takes Bud Shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sticker Swap: Dodge switches NASCAR COT from Avenger to Charger

Alex Nunez — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Dodge

For the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, Dodge has announced that it will replace the "Avenger" stickers on its Car of Tomorrow with the "Charger" stickers it had been using on its non-COT racers this past year. The announcement is loaded with flowery prose that name-drops Richard Petty and talks of the Charger nameplate's race heritage (the Intrepid era is conveniently overlooked). That, says Dodge, is why it was a natural decision to campaign the full-time COT as a "Charger." We think it's mostly because the "real car" version of the Avenger is lame. Seriously, we'd take an old Spirit R/T over a new Avenger R/T any day.

Thanks for the tip, John!

[Source: NASCAR]

Sticker Swap: Dodge switches NASCAR COT from Avenger to Charger originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joe Gibbs Racing drops Chevy for Toyota in '08 NASCAR season

Alex Nunez — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Toyota

Toyota has just raised its profile in NASCAR's top racing series. For the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup (née NEXTEL Cup) season, Joe Gibbs Racing will trade in its Chevrolets for Toyota Camrys (or at least cars with Toyota Camry headlight and grille stickers decorating their noses). In terms of star power, it means that Toyota picks up some very big names in Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin. Stewart showed how receptive he was to the change by announcing plans to sign a contract extension with JGR that keeps him on the NFL coaching legend's race team through the '09 season.

In a piece he wrote for FOXSports.com, Darryl Waltrip (whose brother Michael's team also runs Toyotas) said that the deal is a boon for both Toyota and JGR, because the adoption of the Car of Tomorrow for the full season next year basically levels the playing field where the cars themselves are concerned. The engines will be the difference-makers on the technical front. Waltrip feels that Gibbs' excellent engineering team will work wonders with the Toyota race engine, and that the JGR Camrys should be competitive right away. We'll see how right or wrong he is on Sunday, February 17, 2008, when the green flag waves at Daytona.

Follow the jump for press releases from Toyota and JGR.

Thanks for the tip, Saimin.

[Sources: Toyota Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, NYT Wheels Blog, FOX Sports]

Continue reading Joe Gibbs Racing drops Chevy for Toyota in '08 NASCAR season

Joe Gibbs Racing drops Chevy for Toyota in '08 NASCAR season originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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