On February 23, 1964, Richard Petty lined up to race at Daytona. As he sat behind the wheel of his 1965 Plymouth owned by Petty Enterprises, Paul Goldsmith’s 1964 Plymouth stood right by his side. Then, there was Junior Johnson in a 1965 Dodge owned by Fox Racing and also Bobby Isaac in a 1965 Dodge owned by Nichels Engineering. But how can we forget Ralph Earnhardt, who qualified in 19th place in a 1965 Ford? Because of the highly competitive field, it is considered one of the best Daytona 500 races in history. Petty absolutely dominated it as he led 184 of the 200 laps. Not only did he win, but it was also the first of his seven Daytona 500 victories!

He embodied the spirit of the sport. At its very essence, NASCAR has always been about testing the limits. This includes both—the vehicles and also the men behind the wheels. Richard Petty himself constructed his reputation on the shoulders of high-speed, high-drama racing, and he knows better than most about why the sport is compelling. The King has never been afraid to speak his mind about the state of the sport, but as fans complain about racing today, Petty thinks the answer to getting everyone excited again is easy: more horsepower and more speed.

This is something that Denny Hamlin has also been talking about. Earlier this week, he stated, “I feel like the Daytona 500 is a microcosm of the sport in general as to how we crown our champion now as well. It started with the competition group a decade ago when we took away horsepower because we wanted to look good on TV, we wanted you to think they can pass, but not that they can actually pass.”

In fact, since the introduction of NextGen cars in 2022, the driver has had an average finish of 15 at the Daytona 500. Surprisingly, his average four years before these cars was 2.5! Considering these cars lack horsepower, it is not surprising that names like Hamlin and Petty have been pushing for more hp.

Back in 2023, Petty was at the Daytona 500, feeling sorry for the drivers. “They don’t have any horsepower,” he opined and continued, “If somebody pulls out, they have to have help because they don’t have any horsepower. You pull out of line and go forward. Then the next lap 14 cars come back by and you’re still running wide open.”

However, it seems he still believes horsepower is the answer. In a new segment of answering fan questions, an Instagram user questioned: “What are your thoughts on how to make super speedway racing less congested/compact but still keep the excitement?”

Well, Richard Petty had an answer ready. He stated: “The way to make it more exciting is give them more horsepower. Let them run faster. The faster they go, the harder the driver must remain on his toes. And when you’ve got cars racing 200 miles per hour as opposed to 185, all the drivers aren’t capable of running that speed that close to each other. So that’s the first thing to really separate the cars because that’s they way it used to be.”

His words reflect the feelings of many veteran fans who nostalgically remember the days when raw speed and driver talent contributed more to the results of races. The current package, which restricts horsepower and encourages closer racing, has resulted in greater parity but also greater frustration among drivers and fans alike.

Dale Inman, a legendary crew chief who was closely associated with Petty, also had his say on the state of NASCAR today. His gripe? Fuel mileage tactics taking over the sport. “The gas mileage thing, saving gas, that just changes the speed we’re racing now, and it’ll change Atlanta some coming up Sunday, too,” Inman noted. “I wish there was some way they could give them enough gas where they could run to the stages and it didn’t affect the saving fuel stuff.” This follows the increasing frustrations of fans who believe that fuel tactics have stolen the thrill out of races. Rather than drivers taking their machines to the brink for the full race, they now save their fuel, with long periods of less intense driving.

Top Comment by Haks

Yes , I was at the 1st race at Talladega and went to many races afterwards basically every year ,...more

Share your take

Debate

Here’s the thing: Since 2015, NASCAR has been slowly reducing hp. For instance, in 2014, the cars had around 900 horsepower, which was reduced to 750 the next year. Then went down to 550 in 2019 and only increased to 670 in 2022 with the Next-gen car.

Interesting Fact: NASCAR’s first attempt to reduce hp in the modern era was because of safety concerns. In 1987, Bobby Allison’s car spun and flew into the catch fence at Talladega. It almost flew into the grandstands. During those times, cars would zip at around 210 mph.

The horsepower-and-fuel debate is no new thing. Most long-time NASCAR fans nostalgically remember the days when automobiles thundered past the backstretch at uncontrolled speeds, pushing not just the equipment but the sheer ability of the drivers themselves. The era of today, with its emphasis on cost-saving measures and safety precautions, has certainly altered the sport. Yet as thrill begins to ebb, Petty’s plea to go back to the roots of NASCAR grows louder.

While safety is always a top concern, finding a balance between competition and thrill is essential. Might NASCAR look at adjusting the existing rules? If Petty and Inman are any guide, many feel it is time to return to the sport’s high-octane roots. For the time being, the discussion rages on. But one thing is certain: the demand for higher speeds and fewer fuel-saving measures is increasing, and if NASCAR is to regain the magic of its heyday, it will have to improve the superspeedway package.

Denny Hamlin shares a vision similar to Richard Petty…

In response to Ryan Preece’s wreck, Denny Hamlin expressed anger towards NASCAR’s modern superspeedway package, which he feels dictates pack racing and aggressive driving leading to violent wrecks. “Let’s be a little sensitive with these ‘knee-jerk reactions’ because they’re why we were able to go 175 mph on these race tracks and it’s why we’re wrecking each other so hard,” Hamlin said during his Actions Detrimental podcast. “I’d rather have us go 200 mph with a bit more room and it would be safer. I am telling you it would be.”

Both Petty and Hamlin cite the unforeseen effects of NASCAR’s efforts to control speed and safety. Hamlin contends that modern downforce-oriented, spec cars compel drivers to pack race, where they are forced to bump, push, and fight hard for position. This, in turn, produces a hazardous, high-stress situation where huge wrecks are inevitable.

Preece’s wreck, in which his car flipped several times, rekindled the debate on safety. But Hamlin cautioned that the true peril wasn’t the flip so much as it was the abusive landing. “When he said that this wreck was harder on him than the flip I would agree 100% when watching it anytime your car comes down like flat on the bottom I mean it’s back breaker. It’s the wreck not the flip, the flip is gonna get all the air time but when his car slams back down on the ground, I can’t tell you how hard that hurts. It is really bad for the spine.”

Both Petty and Hamlin realize the importance of safety, but think NASCAR needs to reconsider its strategy. The sport improved much in 1994 with the use of roof flaps to eliminate airborne crashes, but Preece’s bone-chilling accident confirmed that additional innovation is essential. Hamlin maintains that rather than responding to each high-profile accident with added limitation, NASCAR must work to further hone the car’s aerodynamics and energy-absorbing materials in order to keep drivers safer without reducing the sport’s excitement.

If NASCAR really does listen, we might witness the revival of superspeedway racing on the high banks of Daytona and Talladega. What do you think?