Yes, when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series visits Las Vegas in December at the end of the 2019 season to celebrate Champion’s Week and crown its champion, the driver will very likely be wearing a tuxedo along with the appropriate black tie. But will they also represent the trademark bowtie emblem of a Chevrolet?
The Chevy teams are going to have to continue to build on the momentum gained toward the end of the 2018 season after debuting and struggling with the ZL1 Camaro body. While Austin Dillon did win the season-opening crown jewel Daytona 500 in the famed No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing, the manufacturer didn’t pick up another victory until late in the season when another famous number and legendary name won for the first time, Chase Elliott in the No. 9 of Hendrick Motorsports.
While that team picked up steam with Elliott winning three of 11 races toward the end of the year, two veteran drivers went winless, the No. 42 Kyle Larson for Chip Ganassi Racing and seven-time Champion Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports machine, breaking a 16-year streak.
As a whole, the company finished the year with four wins and 37 top-fives, both their lowest totals since 1982 along with five pole awards, their lowest since 1981. In the modern era, which began in 1972, Chevrolet had won the manufacturers’ title at least every year putting together streaks of three, five, nine, and 13 consecutive years amassing a total of 39 victories. Ford is the next closest with 16 visits to victory lane. Most recently, Ford has not captured that honor for three years. They haven’t had someone in the final four contending for a driver’s title in the previous two years.
On a positive side, Chevrolet has to build on the progression they did make in the inaugural year of the ZL1. Race wins in the second portion of the campaign was three compared to only one in the first half, Stage wins were up to eight from two, and their cars were out front leading 826 laps compared to 628.
Another huge benefit is having the 2014 Champion Kurt Busch returning to the Chevrolet camp, piloting the No. 1 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Maybe these points and some other key personnel changes among the 21 projected teams this season can help return the ‘Bowtie Brigade’ to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship table.