BIGGER car in 2003 UPDATE 2 or 2002?: NASCAR also had startling news for competitors about future stock car design. Helton told the assembly that NASCAR plans to introduce a “bigger” stock car into the Winston Cup Series beginning in 2003. “Mike discussed going to a bigger car in the future,” said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of communications. “We’re looking at racing cars with a bigger greenhouse (expanded driver compartment). That’s the car of the future. We can’t expect teams to trash what they have run the last several years. We’re looking at 2003. They’ll be driving a lot different car than they’re driving today. But we need to phase it in, probably at the bigger tracks.” Hunter didn’t elaborate about the reasons for the larger car but within the last two years NASCAR has tested a larger car hoping it would reduce speeds.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-2-2001) UPDATE: NASCAR’s plans for a bigger car that could roll out on the Winston Cup tour next fall at Talladega. The crews are trying hard not to look too far ahead to when NASCAR’s proposed bigger race car is coming, possibly for next October’s Talladega 500, as a preview for the 2003 season opener. But the bigger car would be a safer car, with more room for the driver. The roof would be three inches taller, the greenhouse would be four to five inches wider, and the driver’s door bars could be four inches to the left.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-3-2001) UPDATE 2: Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, confirmed Saturday that NASCAR president Mike Helton broached the subject of enlarging the “greenhouse” of Cup cars at Thursday’s meeting of drivers, crew chiefs and car owners in Huntersville. Hunter said that the larger car might be used at Daytona or Talladega in 2003, then phased in at other tracks over time. The cars would allow for more room between the driver’s compartment and structural elements of the car’s roof and side panels.(That’s Racin’)(11-4-2001) (11-3-2001)
