The aggressive and refined style of Camaro will soon be the face of Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Those controlled curves, bold shapes and menacing demeanor will introduce themselves to the series at Daytona next year. The Camaro Nationwide race car was revealed during the events leading up to this year’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Make no mistake: this is about much more than just good looks and those six new letters on the front of the car.

“Our team of Chevrolet designers and aerodynamic engineers did a fantastic job capturing the great looks and styling cues of the production Camaro, while providing our NASCAR Nationwide teams with a highly competitive aero platform,” said Pat Suhy, manager, Chevrolet Racing Oval Track Group. “For the remainder of 2012, our engineers will be busy working with our Chevy teams on wind tunnel and on-track testing to fine-tune the car in preparation for next year. It will be great to see Camaro compete on the track against its showroom competition starting with the 2013 season opener at Daytona.”

Other teams might look forward in anticipation, too, as the stage will now be set for a true American performance rivalry between Camaro, Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger racing models. Car enthusiasts and racing fans alike will enjoy the iconic battles waged on the tracks of one of the most popular racing series. Chevy plans to enjoy watching the Camaro perform, as well.

“Chevrolet is proud to bring the Camaro to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013,” said Jim Campbell, vice president, Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.“The Camaro Nationwide race car incorporates many of the distinctive styling elements of the production Camaro, including the unique power-bulge hood and deep recessed grille. In addition, the design incorporates the distinctive halo light rings and dual-port grille appearances, and the gold bowtie.”

Camaro will replace the current Impala race car, one that has won six races to date in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Team Chevy driver Elliott Sadler currently leads the point standings as the series makes its inaugural visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend.

While it is no small endeavor, unleashing Camaro on the Nationwide Series is only the latest opportunity for the performance car to impress on the track. No stranger to racing, Camaro is already a substantial part of Team Chevy around the world.

In the GRAND-AM Road Racing circuit, the Camaro GT.R competes against the likes of Porsche GT3, BMW M3, Ferrari 458, Ford Mustang, Mercedes SLS and Audi R8 in the Grand Touring class. This class is among the most exciting in the sport as cost-containment and equalization allow Camaro to do battle in close competition with some of the top automotive manufacturers.

Entering the Brickyard Grand Prix this weekend, Chevrolet and Camaro trail only Ferrari in Grand Touring manufacturer points standings for the current season.

Switching gears (and venues), Chevrolet has also paved the way to National Hot Rod Association Championship (NHRA) Drag Racing by taking the COPO Camaro drag racer from SEMA concept to production.

To match the 1969 COPO Camaro ZL1 availability, Chevy will produce 69 of the new vehicles built for the drag-strip-only that can compete in the Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes. It is a culmination of technology, performance and racing experience that Chevy holds in high esteem.

“The COPO Camaro is going to shake up the sportsman drag racing ranks this summer and give Chevy fans a great new reason to cheer on the Bowtie,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. “COPO builds off the strengths that have made the Camaro the best-selling sports car in America. And while it was developed strictly for the drag strip, the COPO Camaro is infused with the same performance pedigree that every Camaro shares.”

Adding even more Camaro into Chevy racing, a body design for the 2012 Camaro SS was approved for use in NHRA competition and made its Pro Stock debut during the NHRA Nationals qualifier at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Drivers are thrilled to have Camaro racing in Pro Stock again. The previous two Pro Stock champion drivers Greg Anderson (2010) and Jason Line (2011) will be among those to race the new car.

Excitement and anticipation fuel the Camaro reentrance into NHRA Pro Stock drag racing as Chevrolet currently tops all manufacturers in lifetime wins in that class.

Finally, the road-racing inspired Camaro 1LE performance package returns to Camaro SS Coupe for 2013, offering unique gearing, suspension tuning, and tires that make the model capable of more than 1g of lateral acceleration. The goal? Putting road-racing performance in a consumer ready package and get it sanctioned to race.

That goal is achieved. Camaro can be found within the road racing series SCCA with the introduction and validation of the 1LE performance package. Camaro 1LE is sanctioned to race in the Touring Class, and Chevy looks forward to watching its drivers start their engines.

Find out more about Camaro here, or visit the Team Chevy Facebook page to keep up with all of the exciting racing events.