The 2013 season will bring some significant design changes to the NASCAR Sprint Series as both the graphics and the cars will have more options in the coming year. Bashed in the recent past for their COT (Car of Tomorrow) design taking all the personality and manufacturer distinctiveness out of the circuit, next year’s cars will regain a lot of those design elements.
Chevrolet announced a new rear-wheel drive vehicle called the SS will be underpinning their race efforts, and showed several examples.
Ford will bring their Fusion back to the racetrack, with a new NASCAR interpretation. Note the side creases, grill and front air dam lines.
Toyota’s Camry also adds its lines to their entry, with the angular tail lights.
Despite some outlets reporting that Dodge wasn’t participating in NASCAR for 2013, their Charger release seems to indicate otherwise.
Lots of bold stylistic pieces on all three cars, giving the manufacturers back some of their individuality they have lost in recent years.
The 2011 iterations had SOME differences, but very little. Can you tell which manufacturer is which?
The 2013 car designs are a great step in the right design direction. Though, we will never again see the true “stock” cars of the circuit’s past
Martinsville race, 1976. Look at all those creases and curves!
Also changing for the new year are the decal specifications. The most noticeable will be the driver’s last name across the top of the windshield. Quite a way to advertise the guys inside with the helmets on.
Headlights, taillights, and grills will all be unadorned, so the manufacturer’s details can shine through. The numbers, formerly on the lights, will move to the bumpers.
Get those numbers out of the way! I’m trying to look at that photo-realistic decal of a headlight!
In previous years, cars only has their number on their rooftop, now, they can sell some of that space to a single sponsor. The size is limited, but an ad up there will be new.
“Step and Repeat” type graphics will now also be allowed. This is in response to the full body wraps that have become increasingly common. One doesn’t see brushes and paint in the garages anymore, so higher-tech imaging is possible and can now be used.
The cars are smaller, so the required sponsor logos will be as well. The side number dimension requirements will be reduced as well.
How do you like your 2013 changes? Glad to see the cars’ designs back?
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JR Francis is an actor, writer, director, graphic designer, UX guru, father, comedian, and craft beer snob. You can reach him at jrfrancis@sportslogos.net or on Twitter @JRFrancisSLN *One of several full-time uniform reporters this site has including its founder, Chris Creamer, who started his site in 1997
Toad85
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 09:39Dodge technically is leaving next year, but they're sitting on the sidelines because they can't find anyone willing to drive their Chargers.
Nathan
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 12:24Wow a NASCAR article on this site!! Way to go on spreading this sport!!
ingmar66
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 14:25NASCAR should introduce a retro series. That 1976 picture is so cool. After throwback uniforms in team sports it's time for throwback stock cars: glassfiber bodies on a modern chassis with modern engines, but with the shapes and colours of yesteryear.
Joey
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 20:08this is sick!
Mike
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 08:45Probably the coolest a Camry will ever look.
jbehrman53
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 08:59Dodge will not be returning next season, so that car will not be used. It was released WAY before it was announced they were leaving. There were a few other things wrong with this article, but I'm just happy that NASCAR is actually a topic for once. :)
JR Francis
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 13:15If i messed up some things, I'd be happy to fix them. Shoot me an email, and we can discuss! Thanks for your comments.
Delayed Penalty
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 09:05The Dodge was released before Penske (Dodge's only team in 2012) announced they would be switching to Ford next season. Dodge has since pulled out. If a big team were to express interest in running Dodges, they might return, but that doesn't seem likely for 2013.
Kevin Dallatore
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 10:40Love this article. Im a major NASCAR fan so if this starts getting long I apologize in advance lol. The whole reason for the change in these cars is to go back to the 1960s and 1970s motto "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" and with the 5th generation car (Car of Tomorrow) that wasnt possible since NASCAR made every car aerodynamically equal. The picture with the blank chassis bodies are from 2010 not 2011 because in 2011 the front splitter braces were removed, but A - Ford Fusion B - Dodge Charger C - Chevy Impala D - Toyotal Camry. These cars are also supposed to weigh about 450lbs less and they will take away the "toe-in" adjustment which gives the car the illusion that it crab walks down a straight away. The reason for that is so the right side of the spoiler on the rear of the car sticks out and catches the air and holds the car to the turns tighter allowing the car to go faster through the corners. I have not seen NASCAR stock cars look this good since 1997-1999 when the Chevy Monte Carlo, Ford Taurus and Pontiac Grand Prix were running around.
F19
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 11:43Can't say I follow NASCAR but it's nice to see some manufacture individuality and the elements of the cars' namesakes coming back to the track. Bring back the Plymouth Superbird! lol Get a field of those beauties doing laps and I'd be more inclined to tune in!
avspens
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 19:00looks the same to me...