AR Bodies to submit next-generation Late Model Stock body reskin kit for approval

(Above photo is an example of an AR Bodies Super Late Model muscle car reskin from earlier this decade)

With NASCAR approving the next-generation body from Five Star Bodies for Late Model Stock Cars, AR Bodies will respond with an alternative product themselves.

AR Bodies founder Jerry Criswell confirmed to Short Track Scene on Tuesday night that his Tennessee based company will present a reskin kit, but using the current greenhouse, for its current bodies to NASCAR for approval.

“We plan to submit a reskin kit plus a new hood and deck lid for the current Late Model Stock Car bodies to update them,” Criswell said via text message.

The company does not yet have a timeline for the product as it is pending approval from the sanctioning body. CARS Tour has yet to respond to text message requests asking for comment about either of the new bodies.

Five Star shipped its first next-generation body on Tuesday, just two days after presenting a show car at Martinsville Speedway during the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 over the weekend. The new body comes in multiple colors for Camry, Camaro and Mustang.

The body has already been approved for two of the remaining marquee events of the fall — the Myrtle Beach 400 and Southern National Thanksgiving Classic in November.

According to a report on Race22.com, AR Bodies representative Brian Hall discussed the topic with PRW Chassis owner Roger Johnson on his weekly podcast.

“NASCAR has asked us to design our version of this Gen 6 Late Model Stock body,” Hall said. “I’m proud to tell you that we are currently working on that. We are working on the car, some very exciting news for the racers. Everybody was upbeat about what I was telling them. We are planning to use the existing greenhouse, the windshield base, and the deck filler in our design.”

Hall says it’ll have the next-generation look but will also save the racer money.

“It will have the Gen 6 look totally,” Hall added. “It was the most racer friendly option that we could do. We are racers and we look at it from a racing standpoint. We have got to do something to help a racer. What it does is the simple fact of most teams can install a re-skin kit and cut a hood. Most teams can pull that off. The plan we have in place versus having to mount a whole body, most teams can’t do that.”

This will come as a relief to loyal AR Bodies customers, like new ValleyStar 300 winner Josh Berry, who said earlier this month that he wishes there was alternative to the new Five Star option.

“I mean, we’re in an interesting situation because, you know, we’ve been partnered with AR bodies for as long as I’ve been here and they’ve been a great partner of ours and done a great job for us,” Berry said. “And they don’t really have a new body. So, I don’t really know how that shakes out for us.”

Now he does.

Five Star’s new complete body package cost teams $3,326 while the AR reskin will be considerably more affordable.