Banner Year for Chevy in NASCAR
By Alba Colon
GM Racing Program Manager, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
I don’t think it has sunk in yet that Jimmie Johnson just won the drivers championship for Chevrolet! I haven’t stopped working yet, so I haven’t really taken it all in. I think it might take me two or three days to realize the magnitude of this weekend, but I couldn’t be happier for such a great driver like Jimmie, and a banner season for the Chevy Monte Carlo SS. This year has been special and definitely one I will not forget.
It was great to see Jimmie and his team enjoying and celebrating this championship and getting recognition for all their hard work. For me personally, it was a very emotional win. Chevrolet has been with Jimmie since early in his career when he was doing motorcycles, off-road racing, through his days in ASA, the Busch Series, and his Cup career. Like our own children, we watched him grow and we are very, very proud of him! This just shows good things happen to good guys.
It was a hard year for Jimmie and his team after starting out with another crew chief in Daytona, but the team always had Chad (Knaus) behind them. I really saw some changes in Chad this year. Not only was he a crew chief, but he became more of a leader for the team. The team trusted Chad, during the good times and bad times, and I think that helped them win this championship. Chad, Jimmie, and the entire No. 48 team have been working so hard all year. I think the fans and everybody in the garage knew the team deserved this championship.
Aside from the championship, Chevy earned 23 wins this year, surpassing all of our goals for victories. In addition, Denny Hamlin winning Rookie of the Year honors. You can’t ask for more when you conquer the top three awards in the sport — drivers, manufacturers champion, and top rookie award — all in one season.
This year we’ve also been very successful with the Car of Tomorrow submission. After many years of hard work, the new engine package has been approved for next year. From an engineering standpoint, that has been the best accomplishment for us because it’s something we can control 100 percent. Now that we have that approved, it has definitely given us the motivation to work harder next year. We know next year will bring a lot of new challenges with the Car of Tomorrow, and the new engine package and a new manufacturer entering the series, but we welcome the challenges. That’s what we love about this sport and we’re really looking forward to 2007.
Next week I will travel to New York City for the NASCAR banquet. It’s not often we get the opportunity to take a day off and see the fruits of our sacrifices. There’s no better place to celebrate than New York City, and I’m looking forward to celebrating there with my husband, my fellow GM employees, and our Chevy teams.
Since this is my final update for the season, I just want to say thank you for taking the time to read my posts. From the bottom of my heart, I have appreciated all of your comments — both positive and negative. I have been reading your comments each week and want you to know we will take them into consideration. Your feedback is important to GM and we definitely appreciate your support of GM vehicles.
Here’s to wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
To see more photos from this season, check out our Flickr album.
- Posted in Cars & Trucks
Joe D, Cleveland
YAY! NASCAR is done for the season!
motorman
The new engine for next years NASCAR racing will move Chevy even farther up the performance ladder.Nice going Chevy
Ben Keen
Since there are so many brands in NASCAR, exactly how much impact does it have that GM participates?
For what it costs to be a sponsor, could GM spend the money better on promoting its brands in a more targeted fashion?
Does what Mr. Johnson drive really have anything AT ALL to do with the Monte Carlo SS that you can buy?
(Compare for example what the racing Corvettes have to do with the one you can buy, and also the CTS…)
Sure, it’ll look bad for a little while - but let Toyota throw their money away on that stuff.
GM’s already doing a great job making the cars that people get as rentals better - I was extremely impressed with the quality and features of the G6 coupe I got as a rental last month, and likewise a relative with the Lucerne he got. The Charger, a month previous, notsomuch. I own a Vibe now anyway, but spending the NASCAR money to crystallize the positive impressions people who are not already GM owners will be getting has got to be better…
John C
Congrats to all!!!! Win on Sunday, sell on Monday!!!
Paul
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday!!!
I’m always driving as fast as I can and only making left turns. I’ve also got a pit crew at home to service my car.
Maybe I should buy a Monte Carlo because it matches my driving habits so well.
Oh wait, I don’t do any of those things. Now why should I buy a Monte Carlo again?
BRE
Its called advertising Folks, and GM/Chevy can be proud of the accomplishments in Nascar both this year and every year. Congrats to Jimmy, he deserved this championship, now its Junior’s turn to step up..
Chris R
Congrats to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and all of the people on the 48 team for an amazing effort, and a well earned Championship.
As for GM being in Nascar, this is the second most watched sport in the US. Prior to the start of the NFL season, it is the most watched sport. GM would be insane to not want to participate and get their name out in front of literally millions of people. Considering the cost of television advertising these days, Nascar is actually a pretty cost effective way of promoting Chevrolet, and until recently, the GM Goodwrench services (dumb idea to downgrade that sponsorship…really dumb) We all know of Nascar as a marketing hot bed. But it’s also an engineers dream. GM also does get something back in certain engineering areas, such as cylinder heads, as well as feedback on suspension components, brakes and materials.
HST
Advertising for who, Lowe’s? What a complete waste of money. At least the Solstice’s entered in Formula Drift and SCCA started with a car built by GM, then modified for competition. Same with the Corvette C6-R…direct relationship to a production vehicle…not headlight stickers on a generic body with a Chevy logo. The days of the Monte Carlo Aero Coupe are long gone.
You want advertising for GM performance parts such as their crate engines, sponsor a few episodes of Overhaulin’ and be done with it.
BTW, Bill France, Jr. doesn’t even drive a vehicle manufactured by GM, Ford or DCX…he drives a Lexus.
Fandago7
Well that’s just super, but I think Jimmie Johnson just won the championship for Jimmie Johnson.
You know, sponsorship money is just that: OTM money (Other People’s Money). And I don’t think that has sunk in yet on you yet Alba, or GM. It gives the donor (of any status) association with a person of winner status. It doesn’t mean the donor is a winner too.
Racing and the sponsorships are such a laugh. The only thing “Chevrolet” about JJ’s car is the money spent on it.
Finally, it can’t be that great of a season for the Monte Carlo SS. A used SS, super clean and virtually new, has been growing roots at my local dealership for the last eight months. Nobody wants it. Why? It drives with all the verve of a lifeless slug, like most of GM’s “sporty,” committee-approved cars.
Chris R
If I remember correctly the C5R and C6R are purpose built race cars that use some existing bodywork from the production car but little else. The Formula Drift cars you speak of are so heavily modified that they bear almost no relation to the production cars. Nascar is going more spec, closer to open wheel series in some ways. So perhaps model names will eventually be dropped, and a car running an engine from GM’s motorsports program will simply be a Chevy. Similar to how Indy cars were identified. The stickers mainly just help the cars to look a bit more like actual cars, and less like some wild Can-Am style prototype.
noel park
10 comments on this and 88 on “Saturn Revisited”. Hello?
BRE
Yea Nascar…..
Sam Houston
Boo Nascar
motorman
i have been NASCAR fan since 1955 when we drove 2 55 chevys to dalington to race and them drove them back home to PA. we did this drove the cars to the races up till including the beach race at daytona in 57. times have changed. i am also a former NASCAR licensed tech inspector so my connection to NASCAR run deep and i still go to several NASCAR races including speed weeks at daytona. keep up the good work and tell jim covey i said hi.
JB
“Bill France, Jr. doesn’t even drive a vehicle manufactured by GM, Ford or DCX…he drives a Lexus ” - HST
Should Oscar Mayer have only eaten wieners?