NASCAR manufacturer Chevrolet is making a massive change for the 2026 Cup. A new body will be produced, ending the ZL1’s (Camaro) run in the main national series.
Chevrolet has already refreshed its branding in the Cup Series, introducing the Camaro ZL1 for the 2025 season. This change comes as General Motors phased out production of the standard Camaro, with the final model rolling off the assembly line in 2023 ahead of the car’s official discontinuation in 2024.
Chevrolet or NASCAR has released little information on the body shape of the new 2026 car. Still, NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer stated via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio that the process had been signed off on. “That process has been completed,” he declared after Chevrolet recorded their latest Cup win over the weekend in Kansas, with Chase Elliott winning and reaching the Round of 8.
“Started working with the folks over there at GM probably over a year or so ago. Conversation, then they started submitting the body parts.
“Then they go to a wind tunnel test where all the OEMs are there and watch how that test unfolds at the wind tunnel. So, all the boxes have been checked. Looking forward to seeing the new Chevrolet when we get to Daytona in 2026.”
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Chevrolet is the manufacturer for six Cup charter teams: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Kaulig Racing, Spire Motorsports, and Hyak Motorsports. The car brand has the most team wins in the Cup, with Elliott winning their 13th as he took the chequered flag in the second of three Round of 12 playoff races.
Elliott won a grandstand finish, passing Championship contender Denny Hamlin on the final lap to take the checkered flag. The Hendrick Motorsports star is guaranteed a spot in the Round of 8 alongside New Hampshire race winner Ryan Blaney.
“What did I tell you? Playoffs is a long time. A lot can happen in 10 weeks,” Elliott said. “That can be the difference in somebody being mediocre to potentially getting on a hot streak or even a team collectively getting better throughout that course of time.
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“So it’s all about buying yourself more time. If you’re not where you want to be, you’re just trying to buy yourself more time. Fortunately, we bought ourself three more weeks, and we’ll fight like hell until they tell us to not.”
Vice chairman Jeff Gordon was equally as pleased. Hendrick is primed to have three of its Cup drivers in the next round, barring disaster at Charlotte this weekend.
“You’ll take the win however you can get it. Obviously it’s a huge spark for the 9 team, but you also want to execute solid races,” Gordon said. “I think we saw first round we didn’t execute very well, and it looked sloppy. I think we realize we’re on our heels a little bit.”