The highly anticipated Rick Hendrick NASCAR announcement is poised for this Friday, as General Motors gets ready to introduce the next-generation Chevy body to replace the outgoing ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Team owner Rick Hendrick, who has partnered with Chevrolet for five decades, confirmed these forthcoming changes that are set to reshape the competition for the 2026 season.
Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, emphasized that the latest GM body is designed to enhance competitiveness and align Chevrolet more closely with rival manufacturers. The collaboration with Chevrolet dates back before Hendrick’s time as a Cup Series owner, establishing a long-standing tradition of innovation between the two.
“It’s supposedly better than what we got. Closer to what Toyota and Ford have,”
Hendrick shared last week, highlighting the improvements in the new body shape as GM aims to close the performance gap with Toyota and Ford. The new NASCAR model from Chevrolet is expected to build upon the strengths of its predecessors, while correcting what Hendrick sees as recent shortcomings.
Hendrick Shares His Perspective on the Update
Further explaining the upcoming reveal, Hendrick stated via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio,
“I think Chevrolet is going to make the official announcement Friday,”
signaling that the update will soon become public knowledge.
While not divulging specific details, Hendrick remarked,
“So, I better not lean into that. I’m excited about it, can I say that?”
expressing both excitement and restraint in revealing too much before Chevrolet’s scheduled announcement.
Hendrick acknowledged the challenges his teams have faced in keeping up with the advancements by rivals, noting,
“I think we’ve been giving up a little bit to the Toyotas and Fords. They had a shot at the apple and made their cars better.”
He also added,
“We have a turn to work on our car a little bit. Chevrolet is going to announce it Friday. So, they don’t have to wait very long.”
According to Hendrick, fans and teams can expect the official release of the new GM NASCAR body on November 14th, 2025. NASCAR has indicated that development is complete for use in the 2026 season, which will mark the era’s official debut of this updated Chevrolet model.
What the Announcement Could Mean for NASCAR
The impending Rick Hendrick NASCAR announcement has signaled renewed optimism within Chevrolet’s camp, as the brand prepares to challenge rival manufacturers Ford and Toyota on a more level playing field. The introduction of this new body style is expected to generate significant interest among teams, competitors, and fans who follow the NASCAR Cup Series, and could influence performance dynamics for the 2026 season and beyond.
