NASCAR was founded in 1949 but has its beginnings all the way back in the 20s during prohibition. Bootleggers modified stock cars to outrun federal agents and local police. The principle of modifying stock cars and the fact that many of NASCARs founders and early drivers were bootleggers during prohibition created the foundation of NASCAR itself, according to prohibition.themobmuseum.org.
There have been many changes to the vehicles used on the track since the company was made. Many issues arose over the years, like that of safety and aerodynamics which led to changes in danger reduction, and improvements in performance and design, according to cbssports.com.
Generation One – 1948 to 1966
During the early races of generation one, NASCAR used pre-WWII cars due to a shortage of newer models after the war. The later races of generation one featured the first car provided by an approved manufacturer, which was the 1955 Hudson Hornet. Eventually, the 1965 Ford Galaxy joined the Hudson Hornet during the final years of gen one, according to nascar.com.
Generation Two – 1967 to 1980
This 13 year period featured the 1967 Ford Fairlane, the 1973 Dodge Charger and the 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, according to nascar.com.
NASCAR also gave the design teams more freedom with the cars, allowing them to change the chassis, or frame, but not the body, according to autoweek.com.
The modification to the frames was the addition of a mandatory roll cage welded onto the frame in order to better protect the driver. The cars also no longer had opening doors, which forced the drivers to climb through the windows, according to nascarhall.com.
Generation Three – 1981 to 1991
Races during this period featured the 1981 Buick Regal, the 1985 Ford Thunderbird, the 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix and the 1991 Chevrolet Lumina. All of these cars featured wheel bases reduced from 115 inches to 110 inches, according to nascar.com.
During the Daytona 500 the racers were required to use a generation three car after using both gen two and three models in prior races, according nascarhall.com.
Generation Four – 1992 to 2007
This era’s lineup included the 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the 1998 Ford Taurus, the 2001 Dodge Intrepid and the 2006 Ford Fusion, according to nascar.com.
Generation four cars started looking less and less like the actual car. The cars had stretched body lines for maximum aerodynamics but looked so warped that they earned the nickname “Twisted Sisters”, according to nascarhall.com.
Generation Five – 2008 to 2012
The cars featured in Generation five were the 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS, the 2010 Toyota Camry, the 2012 Dodge Charger and the 2012 Chevrolet Impala SS. During the early races, these cars featured a rear wing for aero adjustments and front and rear splitters, according to nascar.com.
Later on in generation five, racers complained about handling, and after only using the generation five cars for 16 races, NASCAR went back to generation four cars, according to nascarhall.com.
Generation Six – 2013 to 2021
The cars of this generation included the 2013 Ford Fusion, 2019 Ford Mustang, 2013 Chevrolet SS, 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, as well as the 2013, 2015 and 2018 models of the Toyota Camry, according to 100.iracing.com.
The gen six cars were larger, more brand specific and faster than the previous generations. They produced around 750 horsepower, and relied on aerodynamic grip on the racetracks to make speed, according to autoweek.com.
Generation Seven – 2022 to Present
These cars are manufactured by Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet and look closer to their showroom counterparts due to less warped and more symmetrical bodies, according to caranddriver.com.
The wheels have been changed from 15 inches to 18 inches, an independent rear suspension and a sequential shifter were all added as well, according to caranddriver.com.
