[brandonppr]

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/15/series-formerly-known-as-busch-to-pony-up/

Series Formerly Known As Busch to Pony Up



or Why NASCAR Is Better Than Other Racing Series ... They keep coming up with new ways to keep it fresh. We don't always like them, but they do keep it interesting.

Sources are telling Speed that the series that will cease to be known as Busch after this season is planning a major change as early as 2009--a switch to Pony cars:
If plans go according to schedule, the next-generation Busch Series cars will be Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and an as-yet-to-be named Toyota model, sources said. Ford overhauled the Mustang as a 1960s-retro model in 2005, to positive critical and commercial results. Chevrolet and Dodge will release similarly retro-themed Camaros and Challengers, respectively, by the 2009 model year.The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger all are two-door coupes with rear-wheel drive and available V-8 engines, a hugely popular combination in the halcyon days of 1960s muscle cars.
I imagine the difficulty NASCAR has had in securing sponsorship for the series has inspired them to shake things up. Short of limiting/excluding Nextel Sprint Cup drivers' participation in the series--and what series should prohibit racers from racing?--NASCAR needs to do something to spice up the series. Firing up the manufacturers can't hurt.

'Course, they might want to do something about the runaway point lead phenomena, too.

Hard to say what not running a "Cup-lite" might do for Buschwhacking. Running another type of race car might inspire even more Cup drivers to compete or it might eliminate some benefit to Cup racing. Would either be a bad thing?

Whether this has been inspired by difficulty securing sponsorship or a desire to improve competition, I don't care. Personally, I think it's inspired by the 2009 retro Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challengers. I know I am, although I'm partial to the Camaros. The sneak peak sent me on a walk down memory lane to my 14-year-old lead foot and my first 160mph leisure drive on two-lane blacktop in Iowa. I don't remember his name any more, but I'll never forget the ride he was brave enough to let me get behind the wheel of--a '67 Camaro SS 396 in Hugger Orange.

Whatever the inspiration, the switch to muscle cars would be a great way to give the Busch--or whatever it will be called--Series its own identity. Even better if the cars have different body styles.

Bring it on!

 

[Jinx]

My opinion on NASCAR is not very high, especially after seeing this. I come from NC and grew up with grassroot stock car racing in the family; and I believe them keeping it fresh has killed the base of the sports. There was a day when a sponsor could buy a car from the nearest dealership and give it to the team to have it ready for race day the next day after they totalled the original during qualifying. I like to see real "stock" body cars run.

I mean, if they are racing RWD, V8, "Fusion" and "Monte Carlo" then :BangHead:

At least pony cars are V8 Powered and RWD. Well, no need for me to get bent on this because everyone views the sport different from me and love it.
But I like to see the "pony" cars in the Trans Am series only, though and NHRA sanctioned events. But thats just me.

 

[Jak]

Well I figured they'd screw it up. They were doing good with Camaro, Mustang and Challenger, but toyota? Nascar's an American sport keep the "F'in" imports out.

 

[brandonppr]

I have lost a lot of intrest in Nascar the past few years.

I am like you on running real cars, I would love to see that. I think it takes alot away running the race bodies and not 1 part real car on them.

I wouldn't mind them racing pony cars though. I wonder what Toyota would bring though. I think Toyota would be kinda out of place, but I guess they already are in a way out of place.

 

[OctaneZ28]

Yeah it's not gonna change much if it's still similar bodied cars.
Changing nameplates without changing the cars would be pretty lame.

Would be cool to see a "pony car" series, but not if it is done by just changing some stickers around on the cars.

 

[redfox]

If there not going to keep there body style then don't even bother.:5go:

 

[Niterider]

It will be fun to watch and compare cars.

 

[Luwinkle]

"Next up, the Chevrolet 'Camaro'!!!" "But wait, that looks just like the Monte Carlo car!" "Buzz of you little turd."
etc.

 

[Jinx]

I have lost a lot of intrest in Nascar the past few years.

I am like you on running real cars, I would love to see that. I think it takes alot away running the race bodies and not 1 part real car on them.

I wouldn't mind them racing pony cars though. I wonder what Toyota would bring though. I think Toyota would be kinda out of place, but I guess they already are in a way out of place.

Agreed/
Well I like the fact its at least the car genre is close enough (RWD, V8).

If someone was to create a racing series using GT2 style rules and car setups, I would be a big fan. I like to see real Chargers, Challengers, Camaros, G8s, Zeta based Impalas, Falcons, and Mustangs in a series.
For one, if american companies in a heavy indorsed and televised american racing series; american automakers would be forced into real factory based competition like in the late 60s and early 70s.

As for toyota in the series, i would imagine that IS350 or new rumored Supra to be the car of choice. But then again it prolly wouldnt matter because it would be just be a race body with the decal representing the advertised cars like in the present series. Shame.

The only racing I will sit and watch would be the Lemans series. But I still enjoy watching the lower tier cars. I find it **** sexy watching a C6R and DB9 going at it.

 

[OverAnxious]

I like the COT personally, I was a big fan of the idea behind the IROC series, put it driver against driver & power train against powertrain.

Thinking about it, if Busch is that way, why bother going to the 'pony car' setup anyway. Decals just don't do it for me...

 

[Devryn]

Standardizing the NASCAR architecture was a good idea. It came a good time. The sport is starting to be recognized as a valid form of racing, so it had to evolve. COTF will allow NASCAR maybe to broaden into the world market.
HOWEVER, I don't think anyone has the right to call it "stock car racing" anymore. It's not "stock car racing." It's "Sponsor car racing." There's nothing stock about those cars. They don't use suspensions or drivetrains from the cars they're representing. There's NOTHING that makes them what they claim to be, therefore, they are not stock cars.

I think Busch using Pony Cars would be neat, but then again, why not just bring back the Trans Am series? That's the reason some of these cars were developed anyway right?

Oh, and I'd actually like to see the rebirth of true stock car racing.

 

[OctaneZ28]

I like the COT personally

I do as well.
I didn't like it at first cuz it was "funny looking".
I still think it is, but I'll get over that.

The more I read about the COT the more I like it.
It is far and away a safer car than the old one.

 

[Jinx]

HOWEVER, I don't think anyone has the right to call it "stock car racing" anymore. It's not "stock car racing." It's "Sponsor car racing." There's nothing stock about those cars. They don't use suspensions or drivetrains from the cars they're representing. There's NOTHING that makes them what they claim to be, therefore, they are not stock cars.

I think Busch using Pony Cars would be neat, but then again, why not just bring back the Trans Am series? That's the reason some of these cars were developed anyway right?

Oh, and I'd actually like to see the rebirth of true stock car racing.

1+
I dont like the departure from "stock car", but I too would like a rebirth of the sport it once was and the trans am series.

I feel like im watching billboards making left hand turns around drunk fans on the in-field with NASCAR.

 

[usmc190]

Standardizing the NASCAR architecture was a good idea. It came a good time. The sport is starting to be recognized as a valid form of racing, so it had to evolve. COTF will allow NASCAR maybe to broaden into the world market.
HOWEVER, I don't think anyone has the right to call it "stock car racing" anymore. It's not "stock car racing." It's "Sponsor car racing." There's nothing stock about those cars. They don't use suspensions or drivetrains from the cars they're representing. There's NOTHING that makes them what they claim to be, therefore, they are not stock cars.

I think Busch using Pony Cars would be neat, but then again, why not just bring back the Trans Am series? That's the reason some of these cars were developed anyway right?

Oh, and I'd actually like to see the rebirth of true stock car racing.

I'm with you and Jinx here and I'm sure there are a million others out there that would love to see trans-am and true stock car races come back. Most of all I'd love to see the trans-am races come back, but how can they do that when Bob Lutz said that the pontiac trans-am would NOT be coming back and that the zeta car to FOLLOW the camaro would be badged a gto? Maybe there is a name that hasn't been anounced. But I doubt that trans-am will ever be seen again. If Lutz brings in the trans-am I will take my hairstyle "back to the day". Instead of a high and tight, I will grow/ weave me a mullet. I loved the 80s, really! But I would like to see the camaro with no rival "pony" double for awhile. Please wait pontiac and let our camaro get its own spotlight. I really believe this will be the case. Busch series or pony series? Please use the correct bodies.

 

[OverAnxious]

He meant the 'Trans Am series', not the 'Pontiac Trans Am'

Also, I haven't heard anyone refer to Nascar as Stock Car Racing in quite some time.

 

[usmc190]

I know he meant trans-am series but wouldn't GM have to bring back the trans-am to start up that series again? Or would it just be a way to sell more cars? As much as I liked that series it doesn't matter what they call it, I will watch it!

 

[brandonppr]

The "Trans-Am" series name is owned by SCCA not GM. It was not named after GM's car the Trans AM.
It is a seperate thing from GM.

 

[redfox]

I would love to see Camaro-Mustang-Challenger race the bush series but only if they keep there body styles. If they all have the same body style like nascar then don't even bother with it.:5go:

 

[Z28 Autobot]

Yea if the cars looked like they could go pass for the real deals..

though for some reason the idea of the mall having the same shape..long hood short deck and flat front..the stickers might make them a dodge ford and chevy..not a good idea..

 

[CamaroCliff]

i think they should race in their stock ..."modified" form. they should look like what they are, i want to see a Camaro win, not a square box car with the bowtie painted on it. i never understood why they race big body cars instead of SPORTS cars anyway... same thing with trucks. makes no sense. we dont go mud bogging in our camaros, keep the trucks on the trails and in the mud. baja is for trucks. paved tracks are for low riding powerful lightweight cars. speaking of trans am series, they need to have iroc races again too. <<wants to see Camaro in action!