“There’s some conversation of, ‘Can you go up to 750?’ And that’s something that, well, I’m sure we’ll discuss with the drivers too.” Mike Forde, NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Communications, shared this update earlier this month on Hauler Talk. This was indeed a surprise, given that time and again the governing body has turned a deaf ear whenever there have been demands for a change in the Next Gen car.

The idea of parity racing hasn’t exactly been a huge hit among the Cup Series garage, and the only way to improve the on-track product right now seems to be tweaking the engine power. Ask Denny Hamlin, he has been advocating this change for a while now, “Could we at least go back to the 750 horsepower, which is only 100 more than what we got now, which would at least be a step in the right direction.”

Currently, the power these Next Gen cars produce is 670 horsepower, and the superspeedway package restricts this power to 510, along with the addition of the rear 7-inch spoiler. The previous generation, Gen 6 race car had 750 horsepower, but ever since the introduction of Gen 7 car, the aero-heavy design has taken over the power, which hasn’t necessarily led to barn burners races, at least not on short ovals and the drafting tracks. Not just the drivers, even the fans are now rallying behind the idea of an increase in HP, and it looks like NASCAR is listening to this feedback and trying to make positive changes.

Mike Bagley from MRN Radio shared a juicy update about NASCAR’s initiative that might be leaning towards an increase in the horsepower of the engines. “NASCAR SVP of Competition Elton Sawyer just said on #TMDNASCAR… increasing the horsepower on Cup cars is on the table and is being discussed daily.” He shared this update on X. Now, this comes after a blockbuster finish at the Coca-Cola 600, where the Next Gen car has thrived despite the struggles on other configurations.

It wasn’t just about the execution, drivers were forced to conserve tires and fuel, which led to a different strategy.

Ross Chastain wasn’t even in the picture to win the race, starting the race from the tail end of the field, yet he was able to get past William Byron. Now, a bump in the horsepower isn’t going to resolve all the issues with the racing, but it will create such scenarios, where drivers and teams will be tested. And it would cut out the parity racing part, which hasn’t worked out well so far. And once the fans caught wind of this update, they couldn’t keep calm and shared their opinion on what they think would be the ideal solution.

NASCAR fans all in for more power to the Next Gen car

Fans didn’t hold back their enthusiasm, with one declaring, “Better be 900HP minimum, but imagine the marketing on 1000HP! Would feed generations.” The idea of 1000 horsepower isn’t just a pipe dream; it’s a nod to the sport’s golden era, when raw power defined NASCAR’s identity, drawing massive crowds with the promise of unbridled speed. A 1000 horsepower Cup car could be a marketing goldmine, harking back to the days when drivers like Bill Elliott hit 212.809 mph at Talladega in 1987, a record that still stands.

The fact that NASCAR is even entertaining the idea has fans feeling hopeful after years of pushback. “Glad it’s at least being discussed where as before it wasn’t even an option. Thank you NASCAR for some forward movement,” another fan wrote, reflecting a sentiment that the sport is finally listening. NASCAR has been tight-lipped in the past, but Sawyer’s comments signal a shift. Now this update doesn’t necessarily assure that Next Gen car will get the bump in HP, but the mere fact that NASCAR is willing to come to the table and discuss the improvement to the car is new for the race fans.

One fan pointed out the 600’s shortcomings, saying, “The 600 was a race to me that had the look of needing more HP. Drivers can drive in and out of situations that benefits them when they have power vs not. They can make passes that can’t be done when a parachute hits the straightaway’s.” At Charlotte, Elliott’s win was thrilling, but the lack of passing on straights, where the current 670 horsepower setup and aero package create a “parachute” effect, left fans wanting more.

Practicality is on the table, and fans are looking to engine builders like Doug Yates, CEO of Roush-Yates Engines, for some serious reassurance. “Doug Yates said the current hardware could handle 750,” one fan posted on X, referencing Yates’ comment that bumping up from 670 to 750 horsepower wouldn’t be much of a change. He’s not just blowing smoke—his company, which powers 17 Ford teams in NASCAR, has already tested 750 horsepower setups in short-track races and knows the current V8 engines, capable of hitting 10,000 RPM without flinching, can handle it without breaking the bank.

But Yates also gets the balancing act, noting that NASCAR’s John Probst has a “tough job” keeping costs down while boosting performance. Pushing to 900 horsepower, though, would be a bigger lift, cutting engine life and jacking up expenses, which could scare off manufacturers. Still, Yates is all in on 750 as a sweet spot, saying it’d bring back the raw speed fans crave without needing a complete overhaul of the current setups.

Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying, “I wont believe it till i see it, but do it! if you can’t go to 900 yet then start at 750 and then keep working your way up to 900. Remove the diffuser and underbody as well! lots of drivers have been very vocal on the underbody components.” Apart from the power, the flat underbody has been a pain point for a lot of drivers. There have been some violent flips and crashes, Ryan Preece at Daytona this year and a similar incident with Josh Berry last year. Even the flaps and the shark fins couldn’t keep the cars on the ground; perhaps the flat underbody needs some tweaking, and that can be done along with a bump in the power.

Sawyer’s tease, backed by discussions with teams and engine builders like Yates, who’ve already tested 750 horsepower setups in short track races, has fans dreaming of a return to the glory days. With NASCAR reportedly “working closely with OEMs” to explore the change, the Coca-Cola 600 might just be the spark that ignites a horsepower revolution, and fans are ready to see those engines roar louder than ever.