2007 COT in Fusion and Camry versions. Built at NASCAR’s Tech Center.
But NASCAR giveth and they taketh away. The body and chassis inspection process of the COT is way beyond what has on before. It might even take the teams about four months to get around them with an “unfair advantage” vs. the one or two of previous years. (Just kidding, NASCAR!)
One hoped-for result of this rigorous inspection process is that teams will not need (or want) to build track-specific racecars. That remains to be seen. If they don’t have to because they might get outside the COT “box,” there will be some cost-effectiveness to the
COT – maybe enough to recoup the original investment in changing to them in the first place, in say, three full seasons.
Another touted improvement of the COT is that it has enabled manufacturers choosing to compete in Cup racing an increased product and branding opportunity. You can be the judge of that from the photos. But I haven’t seen too many Impala SS, Dodge Avengers, Ford Fusions, and Toyota Camrys with rear wings and front air-splitters – unless I went to see the local “Fast & Furious” gang – which may be the intent all along.
PHOTO EXTRA!
2007 Dodge Avenger by NASCAR. Dodge teams were getting the parts just last week to build these.