(UPDATE) -- NASCAR is skipping a full year of phase-in for the Car of Tomorrow. Officials announced Tuesday that the new car designed to improve competition, safety and cost will run in every Cup Series race starting in 2008. Originally this was not suppose to happen until 2009. "The current schedule of the Car of Tomorrow races was determined by our team owners. We let them make that decision," said Brett Bodine, Director of NASCAR Cost and Research.

The average Nextel Cup team maintains 15 to 20 or more of the traditional "old" cars. Different cars will be used at various track depending on the characteristics of the track. "But through the Car of Tomorrow process, you can run this car virtually at any race track." The COT offers flexibility for adjusting to specific tracks. The current car does not, which is why so many different car must be maintained.

The accelerated use of the COT is motivated by car owners who are experiencing skyrocketing costs while trying to maintain two programs. Once the Nextel Cup Series is using the COT full-time, owners will not have to maintain the large number of "old" cars, but they will need fewer COT cars to compete compared to what is needed now.

The COT is still scheduled for 16 events this season. A Hendrick Motorsports driver has won all of the five COT races so far this season.