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NASCAR's Phelps "very excited" to see Gen-7 car on track

NASCAR’s next generation race car gets its first on-track test this week and but don’t expect any sneak peeks. 

 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's Hazelnut and  Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's Hazelnut and Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops

Russell LaBounty / NKP / Motorsport Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Express and Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops
 Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Office,  Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Auto-Owners Insurance/Martin Truex Jr. 500th Start,  Darrell Wallace Jr., Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Victory Junction,  David Ra
Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet Camaro LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Clover, and J.J. Yeley, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet Camaro DriveSmart
 Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Pennzoil and  William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Liberty University
 Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Nationwide  Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Mountain Dew / Little Caesar's
Steve Phelps, NASCAR president
Steve Phelps, chief marketing officer for NASCAR, and emcee Danielle Trotta

A version of the car, which is expected to be rolled out for competition in the Cup Series in time for the 2021 season, is taking part in a test Tuesday and Wednesday at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

The test is closed to the public and the media.

The car, however, will not feature any identification characteristics of a Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota. The test’s primary focus to sound out the car’s components and performance on the track.

“We are very excited about where things are with this next Gen car. We are on time for a 2021 rollout. I think it’s going to be exciting to get it on track,” NASCAR president Steve Phelps said Monday night on NBC Sports’ “NASCAR America” show. 

“We were in the wind tunnel last week and so having it so having it at a test at Richmond is kind of a culmination of a lot of work that’s been done by the race teams, by our OEM partners, by the folks at NASCAR to put this on the race track.

“This particular car was built by Richard Childress and his folks and it won’t have the design of the Chevy, Ford or Toyota but it will be kind of an opportunity to shake down the car.”

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In an interview in July, Phelps said “the importance of this car can’t be overstated.”

“It will allow teams to be profitable. That’s what it come down to. I think it’s as simple as that,” he said. “The great news is that the fan will be the beneficiary as well, because I think the car will have better body styling that the fans I think will really enjoy. 

If we’re going to do this thing the right way – which we are – the racing, which is already fantastic, should get even better. So, I think the entire industry wins.”

Asked by Motorsport.com in February, what he saw as the primary focus of the new car, Toyota Racing Development’s David Wilson said, “The two pillars that NASCAR have identified are both important to Toyota, and that is relevancy as well as cost management. 

“For the greater good of the sport, we need a model that is more sustainable than we have today.”

A new engine introduction will likely come down to whether the sport’s current manufacturers would prefer 2022 or 2023.

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