Chevrolet is ready to shine in the dawn of a new era

DETROIT - As the excitement builds in the days leading up to the ‘Great American Race’ at Daytona International Speedway, Chevrolet is anxiously awaiting the beginning of a new era for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

It’s the start of a new tradition. It’s a new season with new livery. It’s a time when NASCAR leaves behind the old and embraces the new. It announces the birth of the innovative and stylish ‘Generation Six’ race cars on-track, and in competition.

Kevin Harvick, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

When the action at Daytona Speedweeks begins with the pre-season Sprint Unlimited exhibition race on Saturday, February 16, and then the 55th running of the prestigious Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 24, 2013, it will be the first time for race fans around the world to see the all-new Chevrolet SS in competition.

It’s sharp. It’s distinctive. It’s recognizable. It’s familiar. It shouts ‘Chevrolet’ from nose to tail. Even better, it’s powered by a fuel-injected V-8. It has rear-wheel drive.

And, it features high-performance driving dynamics. To top it off, it sports an uncanny resemblance to its brand new Chevrolet SS brethren, soon to be available in dealerships around the country.

From the enhancement use of a Bio Fuel Blend in 2011, to the implementation of Electronic Fuel Injection in 2012, to the introduction of highly distinguished Brand Identity in 2013, NASCAR has incorporated the steps necessary to enable the Gen 6 race car to emerge with rivalries intensified more than ever. And now, it’s all about bringing the ‘stock’ back to stock car racing.

“We’ve been working with our engineers and Chevy teams on the development process of this new car for quite some time, and it has finally become a reality,” said Pat Suhy, Chevrolet Racing NASCAR Group Manager.

“We’ve made substantial design changes that we think are a pretty good expression of the Chevrolet SS production car. Our primary goal was to make the new Chevy SS have as many characteristics of its street version as possible.

“It’s fast, it has the aerodynamic qualities we need on the race track; and it also has room for our Team Chevy engineers and crew chiefs to make changes. Unlike last year’s Gen 5 Impala, this model gives them flexibility.

We hope the fans will applaud our Chevy SS race car as much as we do, and as much as our Team Chevy drivers do.”

Team Chevy has ample talent and on-track driver expertise to extend the winning success of Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Hot on the heels of a strong 2012 season, where the Bowtie Brigade collected its 700th Sprint Cup victory and swept all three NASCAR National Touring Series Manufacturers’ Cup championships for the fourth time, Chevrolet is ready to race.

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opener at the Daytona 500 features an impressive list of Team Chevy contenders to vie for the coveted honors.

2013 TEAM CHEVY LINE-UP (17 Drivers):

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS (HMS)
No. 5 Kasey Kahne, Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS / Kenny Francis, Crew Chief
No. 24 Jeff Gordon, Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS / Alan Gustafson, Crew Chief
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson, Lowe’s Chevrolet SS / Chad Knaus, Crew Chief
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., National Guard Chevrolet SS / Steve Letarte, Crew Chief

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING (RCR)
No. 27 Paul Menard, Menards Chevrolet SS / Slugger Labbe, Crew Chief
No. 29 Kevin Harvick, Budweiser Chevrolet SS / Gil Martin, Crew Chief
No. 31 Jeff Burton, Caterpillar Chevrolet SS / Luke Lambert, Crew Chief
No. 33 Austin Dillon, Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet SS/ Scott Naset, Crew Chief

STEWART-HAAS RACING (SHR)
No. 10 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS / Tony Gibson, Crew Chief
No. 14 Tony Stewart, Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS / Steve Addington, Crew Chief
No. 39 Ryan Newman, Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS / Matt Borland, Crew Chief

EARNHARDT GANASSI RACING (EGR)
No. 1 Jamie McMurray, McDonald’s Chevrolet SS / Kevin Manion, Crew Chief
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya, Target Chevrolet SS / Chris Heroy, Crew Chief

FURNITURE ROW RACING (FRR)
No. 78 Kurt Busch, Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet SS / Todd Berrier, Crew Chief

TOMMY BALDWIN RACING (TBR)
No. 7 Dave Blaney, Florida Lottery Chevrolet SS / Tommy Baldwin Jr., Crew Chief No. 36 J.J. Yeley, Golden Corral Chevrolet SS / TBD, Crew Chief

JAMES FINCH PHOENIX RACING (PXR)
No. 51 Regan Smith, Guy Roofing Chevrolet SS / Nick Harrison, Crew Chief

The Sprint Unlimited is set for Saturday evening, February 16, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. EST; and the Daytona 500 begins Sunday afternoon, February 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. EST. Both events will be aired live on FOX.

Team Chevy