Chevrolet revealed its new NASCAR Cup Series bodywork in November, shortly after Kyle Larson secured his second Cup championship at Phoenix. The updated body draws inspiration from a performance accessories package developed for the street-going version of the car.
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On track, Chevrolet’s changes are immediately noticeable. The Camaro now features a taller hood dome, a reshaped front grille, and redesigned rocker panels. These are subtle but meaningful tweaks aimed at refining both form and function.
Chevrolet says those elements are drawn directly from the Carbon Performance Package Accessories Kit, which includes a carbon-fiber hood and rocker components, along with a new grille and front splitter. Inside the Hendrick Motorsports camp, the updates have fueled confidence heading into the upcoming season.
According to Jeff Gordon, the updated Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 could carry an edge when it makes its competitive debut at the season-opening Cook Out Clash exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium. The new body underwent on-track testing in November, and the early indicators seem to have left the organization positive.
“When you’ve done what we’ve done with our car and our teams, and one of those things is winning a lot of races and winning a championship, I get really excited when I think we’ve got something that’s an upgrade. I don’t want to get too caught up in that because sometimes, it takes time to fine-tune that change,” said Gordon, who acknowledged that HMS had been trailing some rivals in aerodynamic efficiency.
With the revised body now in hand, Gordon believes the gap has closed. “I feel like we’ve gotten ourselves on a level playing field with them, so I’m very excited about that,” he said.
The purpose of the changes, though visually minimal, runs deeper because the engineers designed them to enhance stability and trim drag, a combination that could sharpen performance as Chevrolet aims to extend its run of five consecutive manufacturer championships. Improved airflow management should translate into greater downforce and a steadier balance while at high speed.
Chevrolet first introduced the Camaro ZL1 to NASCAR competition in 2018, replacing the outgoing Chevy SS. The body evolved into the Camaro ZL1 1LE in 2020, before transitioning to a Next Gen version when the platform arrived in the Cup Series two years later. On the consumer side, Chevrolet closed the chapter on the passenger-car Camaro after the 2024 model year.
However, while many teams welcomed the update, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finds himself split between anticipation and caution.
Dale Jr. is skeptical about the new Chevy model
The JR Motorsports co-owner, who plans another Daytona 500 entry in 2026, admitted the announcement unsettled him. His unease does not stem from budget or preparation but from the uncertainty that accompanies a brand-new body.
From a financial perspective, Junior views the timing as favorable. It offers a chance for them to compete without bleeding resources. Still, the unknowns are worrying him.
Junior noted that when manufacturers roll out a new body, it is tough to make a mark at Daytona early on. Teams must first learn how that shape behaves in race trim, and without inside knowledge of the finer details, he said he will have to take the results as they come.
History also supports Junior’s concern. Fresh body designs often force teams into an early-season learning curve, spending time on deciphering aerodynamic traits under pressure. The task extends beyond power or mechanical grip, demanding balance where airflow and stability intersect.
Manufacturers also tend to prioritize intermediate tracks when refining new bodies, a reality that validates Junior’s apprehension heading into superspeedway competition.
