Since the Next Gen car was introduced in 2022, there has been a rising demand from drivers for more horsepower in NASCAR vehicles, aiming to enhance the racing experience. Notable veterans like Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin, alongside top contenders including Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, and Josh Berry, have all voiced the need for increased engine performance. Recently, Ryan Preece added his voice to this ongoing discussion about boosting power under the hood.
Drivers Advocate for Significant Horsepower Gains
Josh Berry emphasized that any increase in horsepower must be substantial enough for the drivers to genuinely sense a difference, cautioning against incremental changes such as a mere 100-horsepower boost. Ryan Preece expressed a similar viewpoint in an interview with Peter Stratta, highlighting the necessity for a more aggressive approach to testing increased power levels.
From the driver’s standpoint, I wish we would be able to go to a test and overshoot it. Give us too much and just have to dial it back from there because I feel like we need, I know a 1000 horsepower seems like a big number.
—Ryan Preece, NASCAR Driver
But in my eyes, with the car weighing 3,500 lbs, you’re going to need a big percentage increase to notice, I think what we’re trying to accomplish. But yeah, I think there’s so many different ways you can go about it. I’d just like to see us try to test on the a lot more side,
he continued.
Veteran Drivers Emphasize Restoring Racing’s Competitive Edge
Bubba Wallace, one of the prominent voices in this movement, argued that a horsepower increase could have a transformative impact, particularly on tracks where gear shifting has diminished passing opportunities. He suggested that more power would return the intensity and driver influence that defined traditional NASCAR competition. Ryan Blaney, a longtime friend and fellow driver, supported this perspective, encouraging NASCAR to take incremental steps toward higher horsepower limits.
That’d be great. Baby steps, keep moving up.
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Competitor
Historical Context of NASCAR Horsepower Trends
NASCAR cars once delivered much higher horsepower than what is permitted today. When the Gen 6 cars debuted in 2013 and 2014, engines produced approximately 900 horsepower. This number fell to 750 horsepower in 2015 after introducing a tapered spacer, and dropped further to 550 horsepower in 2019, a package that drew criticism from both drivers and fans.
Currently, the Next Gen cars run with even less power, capped at 510 horsepower for superspeedways and 670 horsepower for other types of tracks, including short tracks, intermediate circuits, and road courses. The Chevrolet R07 engine, launched in 2007, remains NASCAR’s most powerful small block engine, generating over 900 horsepower, a sharp contrast to today’s maximum figures.
Potential Impact of Higher Horsepower on Race Quality
The limited horsepower of the Next Gen package has raised concerns, especially on short tracks where close, side-by-side racing has suffered. Drivers believe that increasing engine output could be the key to reviving more aggressive racing styles, improving overtaking opportunities, and bringing back the excitement that many feel has been lost. As pressure mounts from drivers like Preece and others, NASCAR may soon consider testing more powerful engines to rejuvenate the racing experience.
