Five Star unveils next-generation Late Model Stock body, price guide at Martinsville

It’s official.

NASCAR has approved the next-generation Late Model Stock body produced by Five Star Bodies and they will be made available for purchase immediately after this weekend’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.

With the 2019 Whelen All-American Series season recently completed, this body will be marketed as the 2020 edition, but several tracks have already approved them for fall events — including the Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway and the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park in November.

It’s worth noting that the NASCAR Late Model Stock rule book is simply a recommended guideline and not every track has to follow it verbatim when crafting its own track rules.

READ MORE: How the Late Model Stock community feels about the new body approval

Via a Five Star press release:

“The approval comes after a thorough test procedure by both NASCAR and Five Star. The two entities worked hand-in-hand throughout the process and met for formal wind tunnel testing at Aerodyne Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, North Carolina, in May 2019. The testing was conducted by NASCAR aerodynamic engineers and followed the same procedures used for approval in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

“During this controlled test, the current approved body style was mounted on the NASCAR LMSC Submission Chassis to establish baseline aerodynamic information. Once that information was obtained, the team from Five Star removed that body in the tunnel and mounted the new LMSC body, ensuring it met proper ride height and dimensional requirements. Testing of the new LMSC body showed that with only a spoiler adjustment as requested by NASCAR engineers, all aerodynamic targets required for approval were met.”

The process was spearheaded by NASCAR touring series managing director Brandon Thompson and Five Star Bodies president Carl Schultz.

“Lots of talk about new Five Star Bodies …. We wanted to get it right,” Thompson said in a press release. “Same staff, same tools, same process for Cup submission used for weekly racing because it’s equally important.”

READ MORE: Why the Super Late Model community has NOT universally approved the new body

Additional details from the press release:

“Some of the upgrades to the 2020 Late Model Stock body includes: a flame-retardant greenhouse which is also wider for improved driver accessibility, added fender clearance, and increased engine clearance in the hood. Tech inspection will benefit greatly due to design features that make the body easier to install and more difficult to manipulate the shape.

“The body uses common panels across all makes with a brand-specific front nose and graphics package for identity. It also allows for future styling updates that align with current OEM designs without affecting aerodynamics and without requiring a complete body change. Currently approved models are the Camaro, Mustang and Camry available in white, black, blue, and red.”

“We appreciate NASCAR’s commitment to establish a formal body design approval procedure for Late Model Stock bodies,” Schultz said in a press release. “We feel this will ensure the long-term success of NASCAR Late Model Stock racing while providing fresh-looking body styles that compete equally and create excitement for fans.”

The brochure with pricing information can be found below.