Is NASCAR’s refusal to allow engine tweaks to its current OEMs hampering the manufacturers? If it allowed manufacturers to experiment with engines from their road cars like a hybrid engine, it would not only bring costs down but also provide OEMs a better chance to market their product in front of the world. However, its stringent engine rules mean that it remains a distant dream. Amid NASCAR’s stance, Rick Hendrick’s comments about customer preferences have come to light.

Despite a clamor for hybrid cars, NASCAR still use the old-school eight-cylinder gas engines, which are nothing like the engines in today’s consumer cars. This mismatch cramps the style of current manufacturers in the sport.

“The customer is going to dictate,” Rick Hendrick’s comments might be a lesson to NASCAR

NASCAR showed off their first-ever EV prototype racecar at the season opener in the L.A. Coliseum back in February. But it seems they’re still not ready to ditch the classic eight-cylinder gas engines for electric ones. NASCAR had plans to tweak engines and experiment with hybrid engines but the talk hasn’t moved further either.

Rick Hendrick, who owns Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR and runs one of the biggest car dealerships in America, shed some light on the introduction of EVs and hybrids to NASCAR. Speaking to Robb Report, he noted that while there’s a waiting list for Lexus hybrids at his Northern California dealerships, they have to slap hefty discounts on Lexus EVs to move them. In his comments, there was also a message for NASCAR to take notice.

Hendrick said, “The customer is going to dictate what you build. I’ve been in the automobile business for almost 50 years, and ‘you can’t force customers to buy what they don’t want.’ We were too aggressive with the EV market. I think the EV market will be there one day, but we’re not ready for it.” 

The car makers are eager to switch to EVs and NASCAR team owners are hesitating. Why? The push from manufacturers is mostly about marketing their new EV and hybrid models. As for the NASCAR teams, they’re cautious because they’re not sure if their fans are ready for such a big change. Hendrick also believes that hybrids should be introduced to NASCAR.

“I think our cars, the cars we race today, are built to be hybrid. So we can go hybrid. In IMSA [International Motor Sports Association], they’re running hybrids. I don’t see as much pressure on EVs because that’s just almost impossible to run in a [NASCAR] race unless you have a hybrid to charge it,” he added.

The shift to EVs isn’t going all that smoothly for manufacturers. Ford pushed back the launch of its all-electric SUV and pickup truck, opting to introduce hybrid models across the board by 2030 instead. Tesla cut 10% of its workforce and dropped prices globally on many models in April, while its stock has tumbled up to 40% this year. Over in Europe, EV car registrations fell 11.3% in March, per the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

Even NASCAR’s own bigwigs, like last year’s Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell, hinted that pure electric racing might not be on the immediate horizon. He said, “I would not look for us specifically to go racing with it. I think you could see it showcased at certain events next year. But there are other forms…Things change almost monthly in terms of what is going to be in the hands of consumers.”

But when it comes to a shift to hybrids, is that an immediate possibility? New reports certainly suggest so.

NASCAR could move to hybrid technology as soon as 2026

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NASCAR has seen its fair share of changes since the 2000s, from overhauling the race formats to introducing Gen 6 and Next-Gen cars, tweaking the rules, and more. A lot of longtime fans haven’t been thrilled with these updates, and throwing electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrids into the mix could stir up even more mixed feelings. One major concern is that hybrids or EVs won’t pack the same punch as traditional gas-powered cars, which could disappoint speed junkies like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and their fans, who are already in extensive talk about the need for extra horsepower in the cars.

However, a new development suggests NASCAR may be going ahead with the addition of hybrid power. According to a report in Sports Business Journal, NASCAR could switch to hybrid technology as soon as 2026 or 2027 if a new manufacturer joins. Honda and Hyundai are often mentioned as likely candidates to join NASCAR and their arrival could signal a massive change in the sport.

While some folks reckon that motorsports might inevitably quiet down with the shift to EVs, Toyota is hinting at possible alternatives like hydrogen technologies that could power internal combustion engines with virtually no carbon footprint—potentially preserving that beloved race day rumble.

Then there’s the issue of race length. Races might need to be shorter if they depend on the current battery technology due to the need for recharging. With so many hindrances rearing its head between NASCAR and its EV plans, it’s yet to seen whether the organization will be able to satisfy both fans’ and manufacturers’ needs.