DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Historic Sportscar Racing has revealed HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage, a racing series for HSR’s growing Group 8 Historic Stock Cars division.
The NASCAR Classic debuts at VIRginia Int’l Raceway, Aug. 23 – 24, with the HSR NASCAR Classic at the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge at VIR.
Open to stock cars that have been retired from active competition, the introduction of the HSR NASCAR Classic is a direct response to the increasing popularity of the Group 8 Historic Stock Cars category with HSR competitors and fans alike. The interest has been further bolstered by HSR’s partnership with the Historic Stock Car Racing Association (HSCRA) that has produced several successful event weekends at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l and other top U.S. racing circuits in recent years.
“The across-the-board support for and the rapid growth of the HSR Classic Stock Cars category made starting a dedicated series around the division an easy decision,” said HSR President Chris Ward. “NASCAR stock cars of all generations are perhaps the most identifiable category of race cars in the U.S. to motorsports enthusiasts, competitors and even mainstream audiences.
“We have experienced this incredible growth and popularity with several HSR Historic Stock Cars showcase events in the last few years, particularly in partnership with the HSCRA. We can’t thank enough HSCRA Founders Chris Evans and Carlus Gann and all of the HSR Group 8 competitors, and we look we forward to continuing to race with them in the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage series for many more years to come.”
Eligible NASCAR Classic cars include those built to previous NASCAR rule book specifications for Cup, Xfinity, Truck and ARCA competition. Current editions of the rules-eligible cars in each series, such as the Cup series Generation 7 chassis, are not eligible in NASCAR Classic competition.
Additionally, all rules eligible cars must carry authentic and period-correct liveries previously seen in NASCAR competition over the years. A maximum of 30 select entries will be accepted by HSR for each of 2024’s HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage rounds.
The Petty’s Garage presenting sponsorship is a perfect fit for the HSR NASCAR Classic at a more than appropriate time. With one of Stock Car racing’s “First Families” celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, the NASCAR Classic partnership adds an on-track competition component to the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the legendary Petty family that has been in full swing all year.
The VIR event date was part of 2024’s full-season schedule unveiled last year, but the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage announcement coincides with two new race additions to this year’s calendar.
HSR Historic Stock Cars now return to Watkins Glen for the second-straight year for a support race on the New York track’s NASCAR weekend, Sept. 13 – 14, which will now be known as the HSR NASCAR Classic at the Go Bowling at the Glen.
The other addition is the HSR NASCAR Classic at the NASCAR Bank of America ROVAL 400, Oct. 11 – 12, which is HSR’s first appearance at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.