Okay so yes, this is very much a NASCAR, and no, you can’t drive it on the street. But hear me out: This is a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR. It’s not a replica, it’s not a recreation of some sort, and it’s not fake. In fact, it’s actually the real deal and you can buy it.
Up for sale over at Cars & Bids, this Monte Carlo features a 5.9-liter V8, a four-speed manual gearbox, and rear-wheel drive. It’s sort of what we wish Chevrolet had just sold to the public, at least in terms of powertrain and drivetrain layout. Instead, we got something else.
In any case, this isn’t just a real racecar but one that competed and one that had none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr behind the wheel when it did at the 2007 Pepsi 400. He and this very same car managed an eighth-place finish at the hallowed Daytona International Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company created by Earnhardt Sr., built the car and it is fully equipped to go racing right now save for a couple of small caveats that we’ll get to. It has Brembo brakes, composite windows, a quick-release steering wheel, a Sabelt harness, a roll cage, and even an on-board fire suppression system.
At the same time, some things need updating, such as the tires. They still have a 2007 date code on them which means that they’re around 10 years too old for any sort of serious duty. On top of that, the car does show some signs of wear like dents in the body, some scratches, and wear on the interior touch points.
You might be wondering why Earnhardt Jr. only drove this car once. That’s because NASCAR drivers have several cars to choose from and each car is suited to a specific track. As mentioned, this car ran at Daytona, so it’s set up for that sort of track.
As the seller notes in the listing, it’s set up for a banked track which means it has unique alignment and suspension settings optimised to maintain the ideal amount of grip when turning left. And only left. Am I the only one who wants to see how it handles going right? [Ed Note: I’m definitely curious. Get in there Rivers, I’ll watch – Pete]
Needless to say, this is a very unique piece of automotive and racing history, and since it still runs and drives it would be an epic way to show up to your local track day. As of this writing, the bidding sits at just $19,500.
That’s a lot of cash for a car you can’t drive on the street, but just climbing through the window and revving the engine is probably a massive thrill. This is a machine with real celebrity history, and as long as you don’t mind trailering it to a track, you can actually experience this one-of-a-kind Monte Carlo just as Dale Junior did (though at much at much lower speeds, probably). Interested parties can check out the auction here, and you can take a tour of the car with the video below, which includes a cold start – so sound up!
Chassis might be from the 2007 Pepsi 400…. Body and paint job are not.
https://images.app.goo.gl/Ztzt5F5q7X22KZQT6
As of this writing, the bidding sits at just $19,500…. That’s a lot of cash for a car you can’t drive on the street..
I know next to nothing about this level of race cars, but that seems really cheap without the provenance..
Considering it has a motor, yes majorly
That is not a NASCAR. It is a NASCAR race car. NASCAR is the sanctioning body that oversees a racing series. NASCAR = National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
You beat me to the call out. I remember when the cars were referred to as Grand National cars as that is what the racing series was known as before becoming The Winston Cup series. Now I guess the correct name for the cars would be Cup Series cars.
I’d be surprised if that’s the original body it ran Daytona with, since that looks like it’s set up more for an intermediate.
That was my first thought too lol
Dash panel has bead blower switches too
Maybe a future article from you could walk us through the interior / switches / settings of one of these? I’m curious now!
I’ll put that on the list!
Excellent!
I’d definitely click: you’ve got me hooked on your physics of NASCAR articles even if I don’t always have something to contribute in the comments
Well damn, gonna take that one as a compliment.
Explain more if you would please – what’s intermediate mean in this context? Like not a superspeedway race, or ??
See the pointed shelf-like area under the front headlights? That produces incredible downforce and drag. On a speedway car this would be much more rounded out and have a sort of bubble nose type shape. The front valence is also angled forward which is more downforce and drag. On a super speedway body the valence would be parallel to the lower gill area and perpendicular to the ground. The rear roof line is low slung which steers air straight at the spoiler. The front wheel openings are also much more opened up, especially on the left side and you can see that the door panel is tucked in relative to the front of the wheel area. And from the interior pictures you can see switches for bead blower fans which would non-existent on a speedway car
Intermediate meaning it would be built for a high downforce track like Charlotte, Texas, Kansas etc and not a low drag superspeedway like Daytona
Thank you! I really enjoy this sort of detail, as learning about all the racecraft involved makes watching the events even more fun for me. My own experience has taught me a little about things from the driving pov, but I’m fascinated by the precision involved in the construction and engineering side. The more I learn, I more I appreciate that when winning drivers talk about the importance of their crew to the win, it’s not flattery at all.
Absolutely! It’s a side of the sport I wish there was much more coverage of
Seems like a lot of LF camber for a superspeedway too
This was his Darlington body, wasn’t it? The front valance got damaged if I remember, explaining the black instead of the red. The Martinsville body had the fenders and decklid replaced, and the other body had different sponsors.
Thanks! This is a real piece of history here.
Will be watching this auction closely.
Now if it was a road course chassis, this would be a different situation.
And buy it. Can be made street legal easy where I am.
But Jr. is a real hero in my state. As such it probably would not “need” to be DOT or state legal to run on the roads.
America! What a country…
Please buy it?