Chevrolet unveiled the car it will campaign in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Thursday. Chevy will race the Camaro ZL1 in the series and will join the Camaro SS, which has been Chevrolet’s entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2013.
“The new Camaro ZL1 is a great-looking race car with a lot of heritage behind it, which will make it a big hit with fans,” said seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson who debuted the car to the crowd at the Renaissance Center. “And as someone who’s enjoyed the ZL1 on the street, I’m really looking forward to getting this new race car on the track.”
The ZL1 name was originally bestowed in the 1960s on a Chevrolet-developed all-aluminum racing engine that became a dominating force in road racing. In 1969, a few enterprising dealers used Chevrolet’s special-order system to get the ZL1 engine installed in 69 regular-production Camaros. The cars became instant legends on the street and dragstrip.
More than 40 years later, Chevrolet reintroduced the ZL1 as the ultimate performance Camaro, developed to offer track-capable performance straight off the showroom floor. The 2018 Camaro ZL1 is powered by a 650-horsepower supercharged engine featuring a similar 90-degree V-8 configuration as the Cup racing engines.
The Camaro replaces the Chevy SS which is being phased out of production.
(HHP/Harold Hinson)
The world gets its first look at the Chevrolet 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup race car as seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson makes the turn onto Jefferson Avenue Thursday, August 10, 2017 in front of the General Motors Renaissance Center Global Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. (Photo by Jose Juarez for Chevrolet)
Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson drives the Chevrolet 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup race car up Jefferson Avenue Thursday, August 10, 2017 in front of the General Motors Renaissance Center Global Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. (Photo by Jose Juarez for Chevrolet)
Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson (l to r) and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. are greeted by General Motors Executive Vice President Global Product Development Mark Reuss as Johnson drives up in the Chevrolet 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup Race Car at it’s world debut Thursday, August 10, 2017 in front of the General Motors Renaissance Center Global Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)
The Chevrolet 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup Race Car makes it’s world debut Thursday, August 10, 2017 in front of the General Motors Renaissance Center Global Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.