Chevrolet unveiled its 2013 Nationwide Series entry: the Camaro SS. The car will make its debut in February at Daytona International Speedway.

It will compete against the Dodge Challenger and the Ford Mustang in the series.

The car has not been on track, it was completely designed based on mathematical calculations of aerodynamic targets using computer assisted design.

Jim Campbell, vice president, Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsports said:

Chevrolet is proud to bring the Camaro to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013. 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.

Pat Suhy, of the Chevrolet Racing Oval Track Group, added:

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. 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.

Chevy is also working on a new model for the Sprint Cup Series that will be branded the SS. No word has been given as to when that vehicle will be unveiled.

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When the COT was introduced back in 2007, Ford and the other automakers felt that they lost their brand identity because the cars on the track looked very little like their production counterparts.

Last October, Jamie Allison, of Ford North American Motorsports, said that Ford would consider moving the Mustang to the Cup Series, if the car looks more like the production model than the current Nationwide Series COT.

Allison said:

Any further consideration of the Mustang would have to be complemented and linked to more brand identity to the car that’s raced. It can’t just be the current car of tomorrow. It has to be a progression beyond what’s in Nationwide.

Earlier this year, Allison said that the automaker was “leaning heavily” toward fielding the Mustang in Cup, and it was reported that Ford submitted its Mustang to NASCAR for approval for use in 2013.  

Now, however, he says that the automaker decided that it was in its best interest to continue promoting its top-selling Fusion in NASCAR’s top series.

Allison said:

The Fusion is so important to our company, it’s our best-selling car, and when we launched the Fusion, we launched it here in NASCAR. We believe that NASCAR is a platform that can help us compel the fans to the fact that we have an exciting sedan in Fusion, as well as Mustang.

NASCAR officials say that they are close to approving the specifications for the new nose of the car. According to SceneDaily.com, the change to the nose will affect the bottom half of the bumper. Currently, the bumper has an indentation, with splitter braces. The new bumper would be curved more, and would not require splitter braces.

NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said:

It’s just time for a style change. We’ve been working on it for about a year now. We’re working on [the brand identity] with the manufacturers.

Jamie Allison, of Ford Racing, indicated that everything goes according to plan with the implementation of the Mustang into the Nationwide Series and the changes to the Cup car, he would consider switching to the Mustang in 2011.

Allison said:

We want to see more brand identity in the cars. We’ve been asking NASCAR because we’ve liked what transpired in the Nationwide.