Sure, that's an odd question - but with the advent of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, perhaps it's not that far out. After all, Chevrolet had the Volt - it's much-touted "extended-range electric vehicle" - on display at the Texas Motor Speedway, prompting reporters at CNN to simply ask the obvious.
NASCAR, after all, is a different beast altogether - a venue where, despite foreign competition, the all-American V-8 is still an all-powerful king. As CNN points out, NASCAR's fans are all about the visceral shake and sound of a powerful engine - something the Volt's electric operation may lack.
Therein lies a problem for Chevy's marketing folks - will they sell the Volt as a clean, green vehicle, or one that eliminates America's dependence on foreign oil? While CNN argues the first path may attract social progressives with an eye for green living, the latter is more likely to attract conservatives - or as CNN puts it, "the NASCAR crowd" - but they're uncertain if one message will turn off the other group.
Pete Lewis, a GM manager, explained there is a fear that "if we position this as a 'pro-American' car, it will upset some of the environmentally conscious crowd. We want it to be embraced by everyone."
As daunting that task may be, it may be easier than the other far-out question CNN proposed: could there ever be a day where NASCAR goes electric?
Perhaps not surprisingly, the reaction was akin to Dylan's electric transformation.
Source: CNN