Since it’s inception in 2007 the COT has been under constant scorn and frequent celebration. Its advancements in safety have likely kept more than one driver from serious injury, but it’s generic and brick like facade has left a lot to be desired (some have even suggested that it’s… ugly).
While there aren’t any huge changes coming to the COT for next season, the splitter is getting a facelift. In other words, bye-bye braces. I noticed on Jayski today some of the first images of the new car.
Much like its Nationwide Series cousin, the Cup Series COT is getting a molded front splitter treatment that looks, well, more cohesive. I think it gives the car more personality, if only just a little. At the very least, it’s a start.
With the introduction of the Nationwide COT to rave reviews last season, it was apparent NASCAR needed to act, and act quickly to improve the looks of the Cup car. Though the two sit on the same chassis, the skin deep differences are huge. Take for instance Dodge and Ford who both chose to utilize their pony cars. With a little bit of work to the noses and some stickers to simulate body lines, they really look like very close to the production vehicles that they’re modeled after. Even the Chevrolet and Toyota aren’t bad representations of their street legal brethren.
With those design differences NASCAR was able to actually create four distinct cars – something the Cup Series is all but devoid of beyond the nose.
Certainly the improvement of the splitter (in the looks department) isn’t going to make that big of a difference. But this, like the spoiler, is one step in the continued evolution of a race car. I know many of you aren’t fans of the current car, but eventually, hopefully, baby steps will bring us to a point that the looks of the race car are really not at the forefront of everyones mind.
So what do you think about the splitter? Improvement? Do you like the looks of it? Do you care? What part of the COT do you want NASCAR to focus on next? Talk amongst yourselves!
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