The HPP Daytona, first unveiled at SEMA earlier this month, is little more than a dolled-up Challenger R/T with the 5.7-liter HEMI. Nothing's been tweaked beneath the hood, but somehow they've managed to add styling cues of the classic Charger atop the new Challenger and make the whole thing work pretty well. The new nose cone fits perfectly with the new Challenger's lines and while we'd quickly toss the faux side details, we're liking pretty much everything about this monster-winged creation. Of course, we never really outgrew our love of Hot Wheels cars. Now if only Chrysler could make an interior worth working with. [Source: HPP]

This was one of the more spectacular finishes in recent memory and fitting for a track like Daytona, which is known for high speeds and dramatic incidents. This all occurred when Kyle Busch attempted to hold his lead in the last turn while simultaneously trying to prevent Tony Stewart from passing. It doesn't work. While Stewart glides across the line to take the checkered flag you can click "next" to see what happens to Busch, an unsuspecting Kahne, and the rest of the field.

All Photos Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

Busch in the #18 Camry bounces off the wall and meets the front of Kahne's #9 Dodge.
Stock cars are designed to be downforce machines, gluing the cars to the track at speeds of over 200 MPH. Unfortunately, once the cars leave the driving surface all that goes out the window.
The front of Kahne's Dodge is the perfect ramp for the Toyota at 180 MPH. Note the other cars quickly dropping off the bottom of the track.
Despite the tangle of the two cars both maintain their momentum towards the finish line.
This is the point when all those in-car cameras stop working.
From a different angle you can see both cars sliding towards the flag.
Kahne is still heading for the finish line, albeit with the force of the crash and what steering ability is left (not much) heading towards the presume safety of the infield grass.
Technically Busch gets across the finish line first and things are about to get worse for Kahne as, there in pink in the background, Jeff Burton in the #31 car doesn't have enough time to slow down before an uncomfortable meeting between the two cars.
Busch ends up back in the wall, again, this time ready to ricochet back into traffic.
You can see from the aftermath
This full video gives you an idea of what happened before, and after, this on-track encounter.

The Camaro took a 40 year snooze from official pace car duties, but is now back with the 2010 426 horsepower Camaro SS just in time to pace the 51st running of the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2009. It's painted in Cyber Gray and possibly Rally Yellow along with all the necessary Daytona 500 stickers and Camaro decals. We won't say this thing is exactly pretty, as most pace cars are not, but the 2010 Camaro does look pretty good with the Cyber Gray covering its flanks.

Press Release:

Racing series NASCAR-CUP
Date 2009-02-07

Chevy Camaro Returns as Official Pace Car for 51st Daytona 500; Iconic 2010 Model Returns to the "Great American Race" After 40-Year Absence

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Feb. 7, 2009) — Daytona International Speedway officials announced the return of the Chevy Camaro as the Official Pace Car of the 51st running of the Daytona 500—the first Camaro to pace the field since 1969.

"Chevy has been a great partner of the Daytona 500 for more than 30 years, and the Camaro is an automotive icon,'" said Speedway President Robin Braig. "This 2010 model will set the tone for a 21st century sports car, and that's a perfect fit to lead the pack at the 'Great American Race.''

The 426-horsepower vehicle, powered by the 6.2-liter all-aluminum Chevy V-8, carries a PPG Cyber Grey paint scheme with a bold accent design befitting "The World Center of Racing." A Camaro has paced the field just twice in Dayton 500 history, in 1968 and '69, and this 2010 model is scheduled to hit showroom floors this spring.

Built on GM's new global rear-wheel drive architecture, the Camaro also will be offered in V-6-powered LS and LT models. Additional specs of the 2010 model pace car include:

* All-aluminum 6.2-liter V-8

* 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque

* Fully integrated strobe system, including a GM-designed custom light bar utilizing Whelen 500 series linear strobes

* 27-mpg estimated highway fuel economy

* Fuel-saving Tremec 6-speed manual transmission

* Top speed of xxx mph on the test track

[via camaro5]

Sure, it probably handles like Grandma's Cutlass Supreme, but who cares? It looks good, it has a manual transmission, it's 25-and-a-half grand, and it will probably eat up a real Daytona in a drag race. Watch this, y'all!

[eBay Motors]

This one isn't exactly pristine, but it's not too rough for a 22-year-old car that few have ever considered a real classic. You got 146 turbocharged horsepower out of the 2.2 in your '86 Turbo Z, which moved the 2,630-pound car pretty well for the era.


Back in the turbo-mad 80s, you had to advertise the hairdryer's presence with emblems all over the place… but was a window trim emblem really necessary? The price tag on one of these things came to $11,301, which was about a grand cheaper than a new Nissan 200SX turbo and $1,200 less than the IROC-Z Camaro. The price of an '86 Ford Mustang SVO? $15,272!

[eBay Motors], thanks to DodgePolara500 for the tip!

10.) Let's See How The CoT And This Here New Soft Wall Hold Up

A 2008 crash at Texas that proved to be the biggest test yet for the CoT and the new safer walls. Somehow Michael McDowell survived.

9.) Bristol Will Always Be A Car-Basher
Two clips, 12 years apart, show that Bristol will always have an appetite for destruction, no matter what changes you make.

8.) Biggest Wreck Ever
After this happened at Daytona in 1960, NASCAR realized that they had unleashed a whole new beast with their super-speedway. This may only rank eighth on the PopMech list, but it's our favorite. You just can't beat the combination of old jalopies, the ol'-timey-voiced commentary, and primitive "safety" precautions.

7.) The King Demands Window Nets

After "The King" Richard Petty's body flopped around out of his window during this crash in 1970, NASCAR decided that it was time to dictate the use of window nets. Long live The King.

6.) Why We Have Roof Flaps

These two clips show two big flippin' crahses by Rusty Wallace during the 1993 season, which eventually led to the creation of roof flaps that pop-up when the car is sliding backwards. They create downforce to keep the car planted on the ground and prevent cars from catching big X-Games-style air.

5.) Why We Now Have Pit Road Speed Limits

Mike Ritch was tragically killed when Ricky Rudd's car spun out of control in pit lane. To help prevent this from happening again, new pit lane speed limits were introduced.

4.) Why We Have Restrictor Plates
200MPH+ may be spectacular to watch, but there's no getting around the added danger of higher speeds. But isn't that the point of motorsport? To go as fast as possible, safety be damned? Well, no matter how we see it, NASCAR decided after this crash that something had to be done to reduce speeds.

3.) Fireball Roberts

A tragically ironic end to his life, Fireball Roberts died just the way his nickname implied. Fire-retardant safety gear took a step up after this, but the sport was never the same without his charisma.

2.) Rubbin' Is Racin'
The famous tangle up between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough on network TV ensured that NASCAR would be prime entertainment fixture for years to come. We wish more drivers would get in fistfights nowadays.

1.) Yup, You Guessed It

The crash that will live in infamy.

Evidently, in 1964 Studebaker built 465 of these - with 283 Chevy engines. So after building a Trans Am Camaro, this gentleman was looking for a new project. Something different to road race - a Chevelle, maybe a Nova. He found out there were FIA homlogation papers for a Studebaker, and this is what he built. A beautiful car, it ran pretty well and sounded great. He'll be back out with it over the 4th of July weekend at the SOVREN Historic races.

Irvine, CA - On Monday, April 21, Shelby Distribution USA presented automotive legend Carroll Shelby with a custom Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. This unique gift was made possible by Amy Boylan and the team at Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas and Lance Stander and the employees at Shelby Distribution USA in Irvine, CA. "It was fantastic to have the opportunity to honor Carroll Shelby with this special car," said Stander. "We hope he enjoys driving it as much as we enjoyed giving it to him."

Painted in the same "Guardsman Blue" of the original cars, Carroll's Daytona Coupe also features the number 98 that represents chassis #2300 that Shelby himself owned up until 1999. Power comes from a Roush 427SR V8 with 480 horsepower and 515 lb-ft torque. Unique to Carroll's Daytona Coupe is a shifting system that utilizes paddles and buttons on the steering wheel. Developed by MasterShift (www.mastershift.com) of San Diego, the Art Carr 2004R 4-speed automatic transmission can be up shifted via paddles and downshifted using two buttons on either side of the steering wheel. The system also has safety features including a one second delay from Drive to Neutral as well as a speed sensor to prevent the car from being shifted into reverse or park unless it is completely stopped. Installation of the engine, transmission and paddle shift system was handled by Exotic Auto Restoration of Costa Mesa.

History of the Daytona Coupe

The original six Daytona Cobra Coupe factory racers enjoyed a short but impressive racing career: Originally built for the 1964-65 for the 1964-65 racing season using 289 Shelby Cobra roadster chassis, these were America's answer to Ferrari's highly successful 250 GTO. In their first year of competition, the Daytona Coupes won the GT class at Sebring and then placed 4th overall at Le Mans. They proved to be so competitive that Ferrari officials, fearing a loss of the championship, managed to get the Monza, Italy final round cancelled, knowing the Daytona's would win the race and the Championship. Consequently, Ferrari claimed the 1964 FIA World Manufacturer's Championship. The following year Enzo Ferrari, realizing he would lose to the Daytona's, pulled his factory support from the GT program, paving the way for the Daytona Coupe walkover. In 1965, the ex-Shelby Daytona Coupes of the UK's Alan Mann racing team won the FIA's World Manufacturer's GT title with ease.

Recreating the Legend

Almost 40 years later, Superformance has re-created this nostalgic player in American racing history. The Coupe is a Carroll Shelby licensed product and was designed by some of the original team, including Peter Brock and Bob Negstad. The Coupe boasts amazingly sleek lines and a contoured body which is slightly larger than that of the original race car. The original suspension was further engineered and improved and the interior space was optimized for more room. Addding value to this impressive Daytona is the fact that it is also eligible for the Shelby American Automobile Club owners registry, capturing each chassis number as a part of American history.

Superformance Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Standard Equipment*

• A complete factory-assembled rolling chassis.
• Show quality PPG paint finishes with many standard colors - custom colors also available.
• Fully independent front and rear suspension.
• Bilstein® coil over progressive shocks with H&R Springs®.
• Tubular space frame constructed of mild steel.
• Power assisted rack & pinion steering.
• Four-wheel vented disc brakes, power assisted.
• PBR® calipers.
• Aluminum radiator / oil cooler with dual electric fans.
• Oil cooler and braided lines.
• Stainless steel fuel tank. 20 gallon.
• Vinylester and glass composite body.
• Custom TFE air conditioning system.
• BTR / Dana HydraTrac limited slip differential.
• 18" cast Alloy wheels and tires.
• Tinted front, side and rear windows.
• Remote door locks and immobilizer system.
• Unique under car exhaust -side pipes.
• Black leather and Alcantra interior.
• Retractable 3 point seat belts.
• Stewart Warner electronic gauges.
*Some components and features are subject to change

In addition to his Triumph, Schumacher brought his track prepped Ducati 1098R and Desmosedici RR to the Barcelona track for testing. It's not known which series, if any, Schumacher would choose to participate in, but it's assumed he can pretty much write his own ticket. Any lack luster performance would be made up for by his crowd-pulling name. [Via Motorcycle News]

Since we last half-assedly updated you, Kyle Busch took the lead, then Greg Biffle inherited things as Busch took a pit stop. Waltrip did the same when Biffle took a breather, then Kyle Busch returns the favor to Mr. Waltrip as of lap 124. Pit lane shenanigans begin and though Clint Bowyer is briefly credited with a lap lead all by himself, Greg Biffle quickly retakes the front spot. Other than that, they sure are driving in a column in a straight line around an oval.