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NASCAR Garage 56 Camaro Makes History At 24 Hours Of Le Mans 2023

Months of anticipation finally accumulated at the 2023 running of the 24 Le Mans when the Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 took NASCAR back to the endurance racing scene for the first time since 1976. Though the No. 24 Camaro was placed in the “Innovative Car Class” by itself and did not compete for points, that didn’t discourage the star-studded lineup of drivers from giving it everything they had through the endurance race, ultimately finishing 39th out of 62 total competitors.

NASCR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Le Mans champion Mike Rockenfeller and Formula One champion Jensen Button shared driving duties, with IMSA’s Jordan Taylor on reserve as a backup driver. The Garage 56 Camaro completed a distance more than triple that of the longest Cup Series race, which is 600 miles, and even outperformed the entries in the GT class as the clock ticked down.

However, while the Garage 56 Camaro had an impressive showing, its 24-hour stint wasn’t without trials. Button had taken the wheel and guided the endurance stock car through Lap 254 when trouble struck. The race car needed new brakes and spent quite some time under the attention of the crew. The No. 24 Camaro was turned back out briefly before it had to be serviced again for a rear driveline issue before it rejoined traffic for the remainder of the race.

“My heart’s full,” Johnson said after the race, celebrating with the rest of the Garage 56 crew. “All the reasons we came here with NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, to come here with so many different faces and have this experience has just been awesome. My bucket’s full. I’m really happy.”

For many European fans, the Garage 56 project delivered a first taste of North American stock car racing, something that Johnson was thrilled to be a part of.

“There have been so many unique moments in this, but ultimately I would say the fan reception [impacted most],” Johnson said. “If it was in the parade, or just the cool down lap on the way back, even the corner marshals were going nuts, it was impressive.”

IMSA President John Doonan joined the celebration and called the NASCAR Le Mans stint a success.

“It’s beyond expectations,” he said. “[NASCAR CEO] Jim [France] had his expectations that we put NASCAR further on a global stage and satisfy our partners that were critical for this to happen. I think most rewarding for me was seeing all the men and women in this program experience this place, this event, especially it being the 100th anniversary. I walk out of this circuit this evening with a whole new group of friends in this industry. And that’s hard to come by.”

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Alexandra is a Colorado-based journalist with a passion for all things involving horsepower, be it automotive or equestrian.

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Comments

  1. To bad they started building it as the end. It’s Chevy is about to kill the Camaro.

    Reply
    1. But are they? I predict Gen 7 ICE.

      Reply
      1. Agreed. As long as there’s pony wars there will be a camaro. There’s lots of signs of a gen 6 3/4ths camaro as opposed to a “gen 7” I’ll say, but there’s no hard kill date and no confirmation of an EV camaro. All is currently speculation based off the timeline for the gen 7 when the gen 6 came out years ago.

        Reply
  2. There are still a lot of negative comments by some people (many appear to be European) that hate the car and didn’t like the fanfare that it received. The consensus is that it was a success and yet all you hear is “they weren’t really racing!”. These are probably the same people that hate everything about their life. These are the small victories in life that can be celebrated by everyone but the most miserable, I guess. Oh well. Great showing!

    Reply
    1. They’re just mad that you could hear that good old American powerhouse drown out literally every other car it was near

      Reply
      1. Not everybody overseas hated it. Top Gear UK had this to say:

        “And we really must talk about the noise. Oh, the noise. Hearing a thundering American V8 plow down the Mulsanne Straight was something to behold, and we think the folk at Hendrick Motorsports might just have won a few new Yoo-ro-pean fans over the weekend. Well done to all involved. “

        Reply
      2. Been done before – Panoz did it in the late 90’s, That was properly loud. Corvette continue to do it now

        Reply
    2. Actually they were well relieved. I would assume a few were not happy but so what.

      This was a test for NASCR but I suspect Hendrick may be a New Corvette team that may return next year. This was a recon mission for them to learn what they need to know about leMans.

      Keep watching I expect more here.

      Reply
  3. a true triumph of American technology to finish a race almost 500 miles behind the lead car

    Reply
    1. I hope I am the only reader who has wasted his time replying to such a ridiculous statement.

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      1. Let me do the maths for you – Winning car 342 laps @ 8.42 mile/lap = 2872 miles. Broken down with gearbox failure camero and shouldn’t have been allowed to restart 285 laps @ 8.42miles per lap = 2399 miles.

        total 473 miles

        ACO do not allow gearbox changes, but as this was garage 56, the change was allowed.

        FACT

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        1. Look at the positives, it finished first in its category!

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        2. John it was never there to race with other cars. Total recon and testing mission only. It won the PR battle over every car there, it also stole the thunder from Ford introducing there gte car for next yr. All in all it was a plus and yes the gearbox failure was a bit of a let down but still an overall win for what it went there to accomplish.

          Reply
    2. I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties.

      Reply
      1. Yep, and someone who has been to Le Mans 24hr 20+ times since 1997. i’m entitled to comment on the race

        Congrats to Cadillac racing for fielding a truly competitive car , but the Camaro Nascar was old technology and couldn’t compete with proper racing cars.

        Le mans allowed the Camaro as a novelty car. Think I’ll bring my ford escort to Nascar. see how you like that

        Reply
        1. Well, the fact that you have a Ford Escort speaks volumes. Lol

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          1. Foolish people – The Ford escort was an analogy of a mediocre small car.

            and any grown up who uses the term LOL ……………………………………………

            How stupid do you sheep feel? LOL

            Reply
            1. You drive an Escort and let it slip out…
              Nice car bro…
              Did you put a big wing on it?

              Reply
              1. LOL!

                Reply
        2. John,
          You have never been to LeMans…
          Please spare us…
          I have…. Many times…
          What’s the Marshals name in turn 2…. He greats EVERYONE and is a Legend..
          Has worked every LeMans since the 70s. Surely you met him…
          What’s his name?
          You can’t Google it Champ…
          What’s his name?

          Reply
          1. John,
            We prefer the MULSANNE ARNAGE lot for Parking…
            What’s your favorite?
            How many Euros was it to park in 2001?
            I can tell you exactly…
            What did you pay that year?

            Reply
            1. John,
              It’s a trick question…
              Don’t get it wrong Bro…

              Reply
              1. What the F are you talking about?

                The marshall at turn 2?

                the Euro thing is some dumb reference to the Franc changing to the Euro in 2002.

                How many times have you been then pal? A question for you: have jamiroquai ever played Le mans?

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            2. They didn’t charge for parking in 2001! Nice try.

              Reply
              1. You sure about that – first few years 97 to 99 we parked at the aerodrome and it wasn’t free

                Reply
  4. Everyone has an opinion.
    Congrats to
    Team
    Engineers
    Drivers
    Support team
    It takes a huge effort to finish the 24hr race
    They are all winners
    Bravo to all involved in this 24hr of lemans

    Reply
  5. The 24 hour live broadcast didn’t feature the car much directly, but it ended up in a lot of shots from different parts of the track and other car’s in-car cameras. The Camaro looked great, sounded fantastic, and competed…..it belonged there. And yes, the majority of the European fans loved it.

    Reply
    1. I want to see a Tesla all electric battery powered car try out at Le Mans as a novelty car also, come on Elon Musk, let’s give it a go, you got the money and the clout.

      Reply
    2. As a former owner of a 396 350 HP Camaro I applaud the team. Yay for Camaro. Do try again next year.

      Reply
  6. It really was a learning experience for the support staff and mechanics. As others stated it wasn’t there to win but just to race. Needing a brake replacements shows that it is a learning curve for drivers on when to brake and not to brake.

    Reply
  7. Great effort but the Camaro is a dead car walking. At current volume it is a $$$$ loser for GM. GM not going to invest what it would take to get sales back to profitable levels. Sad situation.

    Reply
  8. Good job ,oh the transmission wasn’t a gm transmission is was custom built, great speed ,put stops were entertaining, the fans cheered at every stop , all the haters here are sad ,
    You will see some of the technology used in the Camaro in cup cars down the road
    One of the biggest fan favorites since the Nissan Delta wing.

    Reply
  9. CONGRATULATION to the TEAM!

    Reply

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