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Chevrolet unveils Camaro ZL1 as new Cup Series model in 2018

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NASCAR drivers are excited to see Chevrolet reveal its new Cup Series Camaro after the company discontinued making the SS model.

Chevrolet announced Thursday it will begin using a Camaro model in the NASCAR Cup Series next season.

The Camaro ZL1 will replace the SS. The Camaro SS has been used in the Xfinity Series since 2013.

GM made the announcement with Chevy team owners and drivers in Detroit at the GM Global Headquarters.

“The new Camaro ZL1 is a great-looking race car with a lot of heritage behind it, which will make it a big hit with fans,” Jimmie Johnson said in a press release. “And as someone who’s enjoyed the ZL1 on the street, I’m really looking forward to getting this new race car on the track.”

Chevrolet has raced the SS model in Cup since 2013 when it replaced the Impala. The move is being made because the SS will not be produced after this year.

While the Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut in February at Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, it will be on-track this weekend as the pace car for the Cup Series’ Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

The ZL1 name was originally used in the 1960s on a Chevrolet-developed all-aluminum racing engine used in road racing. In 1969, a few dealers used Chevrolet’s special-order system to get the ZL1 engine installed in 69 regular-production Camaros.

The 2018 Camaro ZL1 is powered by a 650-horsepower supercharged engine featuring a similar 90-degree V-8 configuration as the Cup racing engines.

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