Chevrolet unveiled its refreshed race car body for the NASCAR Cup Series on Friday.
The updated Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut in 2026.
The subtle updates to the Cup Series body take styling cues from a performance accessories kit that Chevrolet recently released for the car’s road-going version.
NASCAR officials said these performance updates, incorporated into the race-ready Camaro, came from collaboration with the manufacturer and satisfied the competition department’s requirements for a new-look body next season.
According to Chevrolet, the racing version of the Camaro now features a larger hood dome, revisions to the front grille and redefined rocker panels.
The automaker indicated those design features align with the Carbon Performance Package Accessories Kit’s carbon-fiber pieces on the hood and rockers, plus a new grille and front splitter.
Chevrolet debuted the Camaro ZL1 model for NASCAR competition in 2018, when it replaced the outgoing Chevy SS.
The body style was updated to the Camaro ZL1 1LE in 2020, and a Next Gen version launched when that platform debuted in the Cup Series two years later.
Chevrolet ended production of the passenger-car Camaro line with the 2024 model run.
When that news broke in March 2023, Scott Bell – Global Chevrolet’s vice president – hinted that the venerable nameplate could return.
“We are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story,” Bell said.
The company has not revealed plans for a potential replacement model yet.
A Chevrolet statement addressed the future: “We do not comment on future products, we can assure you we are working on what’s next for Chevrolet in NASCAR.”
The statement continued: “Our commitment to competing in NASCAR remains steadfast.”
The updated Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut in the season-opening Cook Out Clash exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1.
The race starts at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and HBO Max.
Chevrolet clinched this year’s manufacturer’s championship in NASCAR’s premier series.
This marks the fifth consecutive season that the bowtie brand has topped fellow competitors Ford and Toyota.
Chevy scored a series-best 15 wins last season and captured the 2025 Cup Series driver’s title with Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson.
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick expressed excitement about the changes during a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio appearance earlier this week.
“I’m excited about it, can I say that?” Hendrick said.
“I think we’ve been giving up a little bit to the Toyotas and the Fords.”
Hendrick explained that competitors had their chance to improve their cars with recent updates.
“They had a shot at the apple and made their cars better,” he said.
“So we have a turn to work on our car a little bit.”
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman tested the updated body this week during a two-day tire test at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Chevrolet becomes the third manufacturer to update its body in the Next Gen era.
Ford moved to the Mustang Dark Horse in 2024, and Toyota switched to the Camry XSE that same season.
Chevrolet continued fielding the Camaro that first debuted with the move to Gen 7 in 2022.
The lack of body changes hasn’t hurt Team Chevy’s performance, especially at Hendrick Motorsports.
The Bowtie teams accounted for 15 wins per season in both 2024 and 2025.
Toyota had 14 wins last season and nine in 2024, and Ford had seven wins last season and 12 in 2024.
Since 1955, Chevrolet has raced with 14 nameplates in NASCAR’s premier series.
The manufacturer has recorded 881 victories, 31 driver championships and 44 manufacturer titles.
Chevrolet’s reputation as the winningest manufacturer in Cup Series history remains secure.
The updated Camaro ZL1 gives Chevrolet teams new tools to maintain their competitive edge heading into 2026.
Teams will run the refreshed body throughout next season as they chase wins and championships.
The subtle styling changes align the race car more closely with performance packages available to Camaro owners.
NASCAR fans will get their first look at the updated Camaro ZL1 in competition when the Cook Out Clash kicks off the 2026 season.
The exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium marks the beginning of a new chapter for Chevrolet’s NASCAR program.
