Camaro ZL1 Headed to NASCAR

General Motors Co. is switching its NASCAR Cup Series race car to the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which will replace the discontinued Chevy SS next season in the premier stock car series.

GM is winding down production of the Australian-built Chevy SS, which is based on the Holden Commodore, as it closes its manufacturing operations there. The SS has scored 70 Cup Series wins since joining NASCAR in 2013.

The Camaro ZLI will make its debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. Deliveries to teams start this autumn.

Powered by GM’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, the 2018 Camaro ZL1 generates 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Chevy said it used computational fluid dynamics analysis and advanced wind-tunnel testing to help boost aerodynamic performance in the NASCAR ZL1, which has been in the works for nearly two years.

Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development, will drive a ZL1 pace car this weekend during the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway. Heading into race, Chevy is in second place in the manufacturers standings, two points behind Ford and 10 ahead of Toyota.

Currently 14 NASCAR teams use Chevy vehicles. Defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, who races for Hendrick Motorsports, also drives a Chevy.