{"id":32316,"date":"2024-02-28T12:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T16:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=32316"},"modified":"2024-02-28T12:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T16:00:01","slug":"general-motorsports-chevy-kicks-off-2024-gm-assault-on-global-racing-with-daytona-500-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/general-motorsports-chevy-kicks-off-2024-gm-assault-on-global-racing-with-daytona-500-win","title":{"rendered":"General Motorsports: Chevy kicks off 2024 GM assault on global racing with Daytona 500 win"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s just February, but the distinctive, V-8 song of General Motors Co. race engines is already in the air.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The General\u2019s thrilling win at the Daytona 500 in a NASCAR Cup Chevrolet Camaro over Ford Mustang and Toyota Camry competitors kicked off a massive 2024 assault on race tracks not only at home but abroad. Motorsport has never been more popular, and manufacturers from Detroit to Stuttgart to Tokyo have embraced racing as core to their brands. Detroit racing icons Ford and Penske also have historic investments in global motorsports for 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In addition to its Daytona win \u2014 which included victories in all three NASCAR series including Xfinity and Craftsman Truck \u2014 GM won Australia\u2019s most prestigious sportscar race, the Bathurst 500 on Feb. 18 in a Camaro ZL1, and narrowly missed taking home North America\u2019s most coveted sportscar prize, January\u2019s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, in a Cadillac GTP.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/02\/26\/PDTN\/72752132007-gm-motorsports-daytona-500-chevybyronwincup.jpg?width=660&amp;height=441&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Team Chevy driver William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team celebrating their victory at the 2024 Daytona 500.\" width=\"547\" height=\"366\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_pg_img_cap\"><em>Team Chevy driver William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team celebrating their victory at the 2024 Daytona 500. <\/em><em>Harold Hinson\/HHP For Chevy Racing, Chevrolet<\/em><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe race cars across all these series because of the ability to develop people, engineering and business people,\u201d said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president for performance vehicles and motorsports, in an interview about GM\u2019s 2024 ambitions. When \u201cwe win big races like the Daytona 500, you lift the brand opinion and people put you on their shopping list more quickly. When people are aware that we&#8217;re in racing, we see significantly higher brand opinion and image ratings and they put you on the shopping list more quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Motor City brands are everywhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Team Penske \u2014 on a mission to win Roger \u201cThe Captain\u201d Penske\u2019s 20<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Indy 500 and first ever Le Mans 24 Hour title this year \u2014 got its 2024 season off to successful start by conquering the Daytona 24 Hour with Porsche. Penske also competes in IndyCar (with Chevy) and Australian Supercar (with Ford).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Racing has been intertwined with Ford Motor Co. since its founding. For 2024, the Blue Oval is entering its Mustang sportscar in the highest echelons of GT racing \u2014 the global GT3 class with series in the U.S. (IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship) and overseas (World Endurance Championship).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/02\/26\/PDTN\/72752135007-gm-motorsports-campbell-vette.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Jim Campbell, GM VP for Motorsports, with a Corvette E-Ray at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.\" width=\"499\" height=\"281\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Jim Campbell, GM VP for Motorsports, with a Corvette E-Ray at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\">\n<div class=\"gnt_pg_img_cap\"><em>Jim Campbell, GM VP for Motorsports, with a Corvette E-Ray at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.<\/em><\/div>\n<p><em>Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Ford competes in just about every form of motorsport on and off road, including Formula One (with Red Bull), NASCAR, GT3 and GT4 sports cars, off-road racing, rally racing, drag racing \u2014 even drift racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThere is more wealth on the planet than ever before,\u201d said iSeeCars auto analyst Karl Brauer, citing motorsports&#8217; place in a brand-focused entertainment world that runs from the Super Bowl to Disney. \u201cThere is undeniable evidence that those demographics align with motorsports.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\">\n<div class=\"label\" hidden=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"message\">\n<div class=\"title\">Get the\u00a0<span class=\"highlight\">Michigan Politics<\/span>\u00a0newsletter in your inbox.<\/div>\n<p class=\"description\">Washington and Lansing, red and blue, we&#8217;ve got your government covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frequency\">Delivery: Daily<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"input-container populated\">\n<p><input autocomplete=\"off\" name=\"email\" required=\"\" type=\"email\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clickable\"><\/div>\n<p><label>Your Email<\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bar\">\n<div class=\"highlight\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-primary\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">GM doesn\u2019t compete in the breadth of series that Ford does, but it involves more brands including Cadillac along with its Chevy sportscars\u00a0and Silverado and Colorado trucks lines (Best of the Desert off-road racing).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Under the Cadillac badge, the General has its sights set on motorsports&#8217; pinnacle, Formula One, with Andretti Racing as a full powertrain manufacturer like Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes. That goal suffered a setback this year due to F1 politics, but insiders say Andretti Cadillac is not taking its foot off the gas pedal with an eye on entering the series in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe Formula One piece is interesting because there&#8217;s been a lot of growth in that series and a lot of global reach as we introduce different (Cadillac) models around the world,\u201d said Campbell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Cadillac also competes alongside Chevrolet in international sports car racing, its earth-shaking, V-series V-8 prototypes a consistent championship threat. This year, it has eyes on the big prize: the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three, hybrid-powered racers that align with Caddy\u2019s electrification plans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe V-series really has its roots in racing platforms that go back 20 years,\u201d said Campbell. \u201cThe Cadillac (prototype) has had tremendous success, and that set the table for what is now the hybrid platform.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Before Mustang entered GT3 racing, Corvette was a staple on the international GT racing circuit. Like Ford, GM sees GT3 racing rues as an opportunity to expand its motorsports footprint.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201c(Hudson-based) Pratt Miller is still running our factory-supported car but it&#8217;s a little bit different than where we were,\u201d said Campbell. \u00a0\u201cWe created a GT3 Corvette based off the Z06 and we now have customers fielding cars, so it&#8217;s more of a customer-oriented model.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">That means income coming in rather than just marketing expenditures flowing out. Privateer AWA Racing fielded two cars at the Rolex 24 Daytona, and TF Sport will enter two Corvette GT3 racers abroad in WEC. More customer teams are entering other series like DXDT Racing in SRO.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/02\/26\/PDTN\/72752131007-gm-motorsports-vettedaytona.jpg?width=660&amp;height=441&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The #4 Corvette undergoes a pit stop during the at Rolex 24 Daytona.\" width=\"531\" height=\"355\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The #4 Corvette undergoes a pit stop during the at Rolex 24 Daytona.\" data-c-credit=\"Michael L. Levitt, LAT Images\">\n<div class=\"gnt_pg_img_cap\"><em>The #4 Corvette undergoes a pit stop during the at Rolex 24 Daytona. <\/em><em>Michael L. Levitt, LAT Images<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe GT3 program \u2026 is exciting and really just the beginning. It\u2019s a new model of how we&#8217;re racing, but the passion behind the program is still right there,\u201d said Campbell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Americans\u2019 passion for NASCAR has never been in doubt, and GM followed up its Daytona win with a victory in Atlanta last weekend. GM races its Camaro badge in NASCAR even as the street version ended production in Lansing late last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cOur dealers are still selling Camaros, including a couple of special editions,\u201d said Campbell. \u00a0\u201cWhat happens beyond that? Our Chevy leadership has said . . . \u00a0that&#8217;s not the last chapter for Camaro. There&#8217;s more to come on that, but for now we&#8217;re selling them and racing them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Auto analyst Brauer said that racing Camaros helps bridge the badge to its next model line \u2014 perhaps an electric version. \u201cYou don\u2019t just give up on a badge that is that legendary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/02\/26\/PDTN\/72752133007-gm-motorsports-le-mansentry.jpg?width=660&amp;height=440&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Front overhead view of three Cadillac V-Series.R hybrid race cars entered for Le Mans.\" width=\"492\" height=\"328\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Front overhead view of three Cadillac V-Series.R hybrid race cars entered for Le Mans.\" data-c-credit=\"Cadillac, Cadillac\">\n<div class=\"gnt_pg_img_cap\"><em>Front overhead view of three Cadillac V-Series.R hybrid race cars entered for Le Mans. <\/em><em>Cadillac, Cadillac<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The might of GM\u2019s racing efforts will be on full display in Michigan this summer when the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, which returned to downtown after years on Belle Isle, features Chevy-powered IndyCars and Cadillac GTPs and Corvette GT3s in the IMSA series. A couple of months later, NASCAR Camaros will descend on Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe Detroit GP this year is gonna be awesome with Cadillac, Corvette and the Indy cars out there,\u201d said Campbell. \u201cThe economic impact to the area was almost double what it was on Belle Isle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s just February, but the distinctive, V-8 song of General Motors Co. race engines is already in the air. The General\u2019s thrilling win at the Daytona 500 in a NASCAR Cup Chevrolet Camaro over Ford Mustang and Toyota Camry competitors kicked off a massive 2024 assault on race tracks not only at home but abroad. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32316"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32316"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32318,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32316\/revisions\/32318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}