Chevrolet set to unveil new body designs for Xfinity Series and NASCAR trucks entries

By Jerry Jordan, Editor

Sources have confirmed that Chevrolet will be hosting a press conference at Texas Motor Speedway Friday at 11:45 a.m. in the media center to announce new Camaro and Silverado body designs for the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series and the 2019 Gander Outdoors Trucks Series entries.

A press release regarding the weekend schedule from the track may have spilled the beans on the event, as well, but news that Chevrolet had been working to redesign the Camaro was first reported by Kickin’ the Tires in April. At the time, representatives from Chevrolet were mum on the report, as they have been with Friday’s forthcoming press event. A spokesperson would only confirm the press conference was happening.

Chevrolet first introduced the Camaro to the Xfinity Series in 2013. It was the fifth production generation of the car. In 2016, the automaker announced its sixth generation Camaro SS would be used beginning in the Xfinity Series in 2017. Those changes were announced ahead of the Subway Firecracker 250 presented by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway in June 2016. The Camaro ZL1 was announced for the 2018 Monster Energy Cup Series during a major unveiling in Detroit in August 2017.

“We saw photos of it last week and should get more information soon,” said a source, in April. “They had one at the R&D Center last week, so we know it is happening but we haven’t been told when. It is probably early because what they had at R&D was a production car, so however long that process takes.”

The source did not know the design changes for the Silverado pick-up but changes to the nose of the Camaro are expected. Photos of the current production model of the Camaro show distinct differences in appearance from the Camaro used in the Xfinity Series.

According to the NASCAR rulebook, “Comparisons between the race vehicle and production vehicle will be made using the following tools and events: Body Panel Change Matrix Form and Race Vehicle Styling Features List, renderings and photos, the scheduled model display events, private and official wind tunnel tests. This process is intended to encourage resemblance between race vehicles and production vehicles. NASCAR will use its discretion in making decisions related to resemblance and OEM identity. If the production vehicle changes after the April 1st event, the OEM must inform NASCAR of the changes and display the changes to NASCAR.”