Around the time that the 2023 NASCAR Cup season wrapped up, the attention soon began to shift towards 2024. It didn’t take long before Ford rolled out a new ace, namely their brand new Dark Horse Mustang. Later on, Toyota decided to join the party with its Camry XSE. Already, both manufacturers are testing the cars at the Phoenix Raceway ahead of the new Cup season. However, the third manufacturer in the Cup arena, Chevrolet, has yet to roll out a new car in 2024.

Unfortunately, things are only going to get worse for the manufacturer. This is because the final sixth-generation Camaro will roll out in January 2024. Beyond that, the Camaro and Chevy’s future is open for discussion. In essence, Ford and Toyota will be deploying newer and faster cars, while Chevrolet at still stuck with the old model. So one has to wonder if all the Chevrolet-run teams will be at a bit of a disadvantage.

What did all the Cup Series teams test at Phoenix?

The post-season test at the Phoenix Raceway lasted around two days and involved six drivers. The test session entailed running through aerodynamic configurations and Goodyear tire combinations. Additionally, the Ford and Toyota teams put their new cars through their paces. There was also an emphasis on racing on short tracks, given the multiple driver complaints. Naturally, the results gleaned from the tests have not been published yet, but all will probably be cleared in the coming weeks.

It is also interesting to note that there were a few aerodynamic changes introduced. Among them is a new splitter design and a diffuser with two aluminum rakes. The idea to introduce these new upgrades was to help reduce the effect of dirty air on vehicles in traffic. The good news was that these new changes received positive feedback from the drivers. One of the biggest supporters of the move was newly crowned NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney.

WATCH THIS STORY: Toyota’s Bold Move With The New Camry XSE Takes on Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse

2024 is an important year for Chevrolet in NASCAR

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Unfortunately, this situation with the Camaro puts all eight full-time teams and six part-time teams in a fix. Back in March, Global Chevrolet Vice President Scott Bell told Forbes, “As we prepare to say goodbye to the current generation Camaro, it is difficult to overstate our gratitude to every Camaro customer, Camaro assembly line employee, and race fan. While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”

This season started off strongly enough, with a Chevrolet sweeping the first four races. From there, they notched up 20 wins across 2023. In the end, though, the title went to Ryan Blaney in the Team Penske Ford. For Chevrolet, its top team Hendrick Motorsports, endured a rough year. This is because only Kyle Larson and William Byron carried the team on their backs. Injuries for Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott only served to hamper the organization. So for the moment, Chevrolet will field the sixth generation Camaro in 2024, but 2025 and beyond will be an issue.

Will the 2024 Ford Mustang Live Up to its “Dark Horse” Name Against Chevy and Toyota in NASCAR?