Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has a long history of success in NASCAR, with a debut entry in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) in 1989. In the 32 years since, CGR has accumulated some 26 victories in the NCS, not to mention 22 victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as a wealth of wins in various other motorsport series. Now, we’re getting a look at two CGR Chevy NASCAR racers parked side-by-side in the following GM Authority Live Photo Gallery.
Age before beauty can apply to motorsport as well, so let’s start with the Chevy NASCAR racer on the left. This particular machine, the 2010 CGR No. 1 Chevy Impala, contributed to one of CGR’s best seasons to date, with driver Jamie McMurray taking the wheel for a win at the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 during the 2010 season. The wins coincided with a CGR victory at the Indy 500 and the overall IndyCar Series title, plus a championship win in Grand-Am Daytona Prototype racing to boot. In total, CGR had 19 race wins across three different race series during the 2010 season.
Specs for the 2010 Chevy NASCAR racer include a cast-iron 358 V8 engine producing upwards of 850 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, with 550 pound-feet of torque at 7,500 rpm.
Fast forward a decade, and we end up with this modern-day Chevy NASCAR entry on the right.
Dropping the Impala bodywork in favor of more contemporary sports car styling, the 2021 CGR No.1 Chevy Camaro is currently piloted by Kurt Busch, who marks his 22nd year in the NASCAR Cup Series this season. The 2021 cars are the final iteration of the current Gen-6 racing machines before the arrival of the Next Gen cars in 2022. First introduced at the 2013 Daytona 500, the Gen-6 cars improved on the former generation with styling that more closely resembled the street cars which they represented, as well as carbon-kevlar body panels, digital dashboards, and greater performance, not to mention some very close racing.
Placed side-by-side, these two Chevy NASCAR racers are a clear indication of the evolution of the sport. Now, CGR is stepping into all-electric competition with an entry into the Extreme E off-roading series, running bodywork inspired by the all-new GMC Hummer EV pickup.
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