It is no secret that Kyle Larson’s reaction to NASCAR’s horsepower increase has left the racing world a bit stunned. “I would encourage everybody to temper their expectations; it’s not way different,” Larson said, downplaying the 80-HP boost on top of the current 670 hp. The 2021 cup series champion tested the change at Kershaw earlier this year and admitted he barely noticed it. And while Larson remains skeptical about its impact, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell sees it differently.

Interestingly, Larson wasn’t informed about the power boost beforehand and only realized it after the test. However, the No. 5 driver didn’t feel the difference, but he acknowledges that the adjustment is a step in the right direction, even though it is not a drastic overhaul.  However, Bell is warming up to the idea of more horsepower under his hood.

Speaking in a media availability before the Las Vegas Round of 8 opener, he said, “ I mean, I’m super excited about it and I’m glad that you know NASCAR and the team that engine builders have taken a step in the right direction. I think it will it’s definitely going to play a role in the races. You know, we especially with the tires Goodyears have been Goodyear has been bringing.”

And Bell is right in bringing up the tires. With this power boost, tire performance becomes a critical factor. Goodyear is actively developing new tire compounds to accommodate this increased power. For instance, during a recent tire test at Iowa Speedway, Goodyear introduced new left- and right-side tire compounds to handle the sustained load and equal challenges of the track.

These developments suggest that Goodyear is prepping to provide tires that can withstand the added stresses of higher horsepower, ensuring safety and performance on the track.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver added, ” You know, a couple years ago we were talking about the road courses, the cars were just locked down, and I can promise you last week at Charlotte Road Course, those things were anything but locked down. And you add us you give us more horsepower. It’s what we had last week. We’re going to, it’s going to be, you know, a big deal. So, I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

But amid Larson’s warning to the NASCAR community to keep their expectations low, the No. 5 driver’s teammate, Chase Elliott, called it a “good effort” and said that he just wants to see what direction it takes the car.

And not every track will see more horsepower under its hood. The 750 hp is only reserved for certain road courses and oval tracks less than 1.5 miles. Five of the first eight races of the 2026 series are scheduled to use the new 750 hp package, and it’ll provide an early test for its performance and a glimpse at expanding on larger ovals.

But as the #20 JGR driver rallies behind the 750 hp, Bell‘s mind is preoccupied with something far more serious amid the discussions of the recent race manipulations.

Last weekend, the community witnessed an incident that once again caught the attention of race officials: Denny Hamlin’s late pass on Ross Chastain at Charlotte. However, the 44-year-old’s admission that he may have acted differently if he had known what Joey Logano’s points situation may have been raised sirens for NASCAR, and Bell is well aware of the culprit.

Christopher Bell blames NASCAR’s playoff system for festering race manipulations

NASCAR recently put its foot down by stating that actions will be taken against teams that discuss playoff points or positions over the radio, as that can fall under race manipulation. This sparked a firestorm of debate among drivers, and Christopher Bell knows that it is all because of the current elimination-style playoff system that encourages race manipulation.

Speaking in a media availability on Saturday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 31-year-old said, ” I mean, it is. You know, I, but it’s a product of the format that we’re, you know, racing under right now. So, it’s been happening a lot longer than I think most people realize, and people are just, you know, finally starting to talk about it. Uh, but yeah, I think everything that happens, uh, is a product of the, you know, the format that we’re racing under.”

Bell, who has never been fond of the current playoff system and is backing the traditional full-season points format, is very clear that the need to advance into the next round is what is causing the problem.

This elimination-style system, where drivers are cut off after each round based on points, has dialled up the pressure on teams by 100 to employ aggressive strategies to secure a spot to advance. This high-stakes scenario can lead to actions that will prioritize short-term gains over the integrity of the race, as many teams will be tempted to resort to tactics and manipulate outcomes to their benefit in the playoff positioning.

But with NASCAR being hopeful about the revised playoff system that is going to be announced after the showdown at Phoenix, the officials will definitely keep tabs on the teams