There are two reasons why NASCAR fans don’t like to watch races on the streets of Chicago. The first is the rain, and the second is the memory of NASCAR launching its EV car in partnership with ABB in 2024. For fans who’ve stuck by this sport long enough, this goes against the old-school racing tradition. And while this EV chatter got quiet for the last few years, it didn’t go away completely. In fact, it is back with another curveball.

“Long term, you see it as, we do have that CUV body that we developed for our electric vehicle. I’m not sitting here saying today we’re breaking news. So you’d have a Truck, a CUV, and a Cup, that’s three very different bodies that are relevant for our OEMs today to create that brand identity for each series,” John Probst, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President, said to SBJ. And this statement was enough for Dale Jr to post a rebuttal on social media.

Just thinking about the idea that the O’Reilly Series could have an EV or CUV [as NASCAR likes to call it] race car is absurd, and Dale Jr also feels the same. “I hope this never happens.” This comes at a time when the industry is finally getting a grip on the Next Gen Cup car, and NASCAR is constantly improving it with tweaks and upgrades. The shocker here is that any Cup driver would hop into the current O’Reilly car if given a chance, and there’s a good reason behind it.

“I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this, but the Xfinity Series cars are the best series out there right now. It’s what the Cup guys should be running because they put on a great show no matter what race track you put them on,” Austin Hill said about the O’Reilly Series machine. NASCAR might be trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing, and the numbers just prove that.

O’Reilly Series is seeing a 22% increase in viewership, which is live on CW. Meanwhile, the Cup Series is struggling with consistent TV ratings, let alone an increase compared to last year. And this is when you seriously question John Probst’s assessment, “The O’Reilly Series struggles a little bit just from the car perspective, and you see it a lot because we refer to it often as whoever the entitlement sponsor is.” Even if we were to believe Probst’s concerns, EV hardly seems like the answer.

The EV sales fell by 4% in 2025, and the $19.9 billion planned in investment also took a hit. Even the early projections about EV cars taking over the consumer market, projected 46% by 2030, are down to 24%. So, NASCAR has to tread these waters carefully. Of course, there’s room for innovation, but not at the expense of roaring V8 engine sound that has become NASCAR’s identity. Not only Dale Jr, but other veterans also reacted to this polarizing update.

If we are to go by Kenny Wallace’s reaction, he believes that companies like Chevrolet, Toyota, and Ford are “Twisting NASCAR’s arm, and that’s the bottom line.” It almost feels like this could be a reality, and even Mark Martin shared his concerns on X. “They say hope is not a strategy, but that’s really all I’ve got for now.” This EV shift has long been under wraps, but not anymore.

The three current NASCAR competing manufacturers, Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, collaborated on the design. The steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels are all from the current Cup car. The powertrain can produce 1,000 kilowatts at peak. Initially, there was no clarity on which series could see a change in their machines, but now the picture is getting clearer. Innovation and all is great, but the lack of sound from a combustion engine and a tall spoiler on this car is what pushes the traditional fans away.

NASCAR being EV-friendly while OEMs take steps back is confusing

NASCAR indeed depends on the OEMs—Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota—regarding their stock cars. After all, the whole idea of a stock car ties into the mantra, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” meaning a fan can buy a version of the winning car from a dealership.

But while NASCAR is working toward an electric future, the OEMs are backing out.

Speedway Digest’s post shared an update on X that all three OEM brands have taken a step back regarding their electric programs: “Ford is moving away from EVs and took a $19b write down, GM took about $6b as a write down on their program. RAM admitted people want V8s hence their branding and return to NASCAR. Toyota moved closer to hybrids vs EVs.”

This is highly confusing. So, when the OEMs aren’t being EV-bullish, and fans, insiders, and team owners are against the idea of EVs, why is NASCAR still pushing for an electric future?

Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments.