Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is calling for an immediate and significant increase in the speed of Cup Series cars. After witnessing recent events at the Iowa short track, Harvick expressed deep frustration with the current pace of the Cup cars in 2025, arguing that the lagging speeds are harming the competitiveness and excitement of the sport.
ARCA Vehicles Surpass Cup Cars in Speed at Short Tracks
On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick revealed a startling comparison: ARCA cars recorded faster speeds than the Cup Series vehicles during the recent Iowa race weekend. This speed discrepancy sends a clear message about the need for change, especially on short tracks where Harvick believes speed directly influences the quality of racing.
“I don’t think that there was anything more evident than this weekend. The ARCA car outqualified the Cup car and it was extremely difficult to pass. The slower you go, the harder it’s going to be to pass, the faster the mid-corner speed is.”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
Harvick insists that the Cup Series must gain considerably more horsepower to improve the racing experience, especially since he sees no justification in the flagship series being slower than a developmental series like ARCA.
“I think it just takes away from being a Cup driver, and in the end, the cars are so damn slow they don’t race good.”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
He underscores that prioritizing higher speeds would restore the drivers’ ability to compete fiercely and make races more dynamic and entertaining.
Challenges Behind NASCAR’s Reluctance to Increase Speeds
Though Harvick demands faster cars, he also acknowledges why NASCAR and its teams have been slow to deliver on these changes. He points to manufacturers’ concerns about lead times required to produce engine parts and the financial costs involved as major obstacles.
“But I think in this type of situation, I think the teams are as much of a holdup as NASCAR because of the fact that they’re going to have to spend money and change the things that come with that.”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
These economic and logistical difficulties contribute to resistance from both the teams and NASCAR officials when it comes to implementing significant speed upgrades at this time.
The Impact of Speed Deficiencies on Cup Series Racing and Its Future
Harvick’s pointed critique highlights a broader concern within the sport: if the speed gap between ARCA and the premier Cup Series continues, the credibility and appeal of NASCAR’s top competition risk decline. The lack of speed translates into less exciting races and diminished driver performance satisfaction.
The call for increased horsepower and faster cars signals a potential turning point, with pressure mounting on NASCAR, manufacturers, and teams to innovate quickly and invest resources to restore the series’ prestige and competitive thrills. How NASCAR responds in the coming months could significantly influence fan engagement and the sport’s direction moving forward.
