In an unique interview on the Dale Jr. Obtain, NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell introduced a deliberate enhance from 670HP to 750HP for choose tracks in 2026. He additionally touched on a wide range of different subjects, hinting at each potential modifications to the present championship format, and even opening Cup storage as much as extra innovation once more.
On the playoff format, O’Donnell clearly acknowledged that any announcement concerning that will not come till after the 2025 season reaches its conclusion.
“We bought guidelines in place for this yr,” stated O’Donnell. “What I do not wish to do is take away from whoever wins the championship this yr. These had been the principles. All people knew them. Let’s go race, and whoever wins that championship, I will stand behind that driver and staff and say that is our champion.”
Whereas he did not state what modifications could also be coming to the format, it is turning into clear that NASCAR desires to maneuver away from a one-race last spherical, and he targeted on conversations he has had with one driver specifically.
“So what will get me to consider it’s Christopher Bell. The man who will are available in and have a dialog with me behind closed doorways, would not exit and tweet about every thing and say, ‘hey, here is what I feel. This is what.’ He simply offers me an trustworthy opinion, which I agree with, of, ‘hey, man, if I roll off 10 wins in a yr, and I am going to at least one race and couple different guys get into me or no matter, I am not the champion.’ 4 years in a row, that occurs. I do not need the following Christopher Bell, who’s ten years previous proper now, excited about NASCAR, eager to go to NASCAR, eager to be a champion, and say, ‘huh, it is a little bit extra of an opportunity on a one race, proper?’ And I additionally have a look at it like Christopher Bell, to me, is a celebrity in our sport. You roll off 4 championships in a row with eight wins and a physique of labor, no matter that could be, that is good for our sport. Persons are speaking about him.”
Bell not too long ago stated publicly that he’s in favor of a full-season factors format, which NASCAR hasn’t utilized since 2003.
Playoffs dominate each dialogue all season lengthy
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Because the dialog progressed, O’Donnell stated he would not like how the format is dominating the dialogue at each single occasion. We have seen it occur a number of occasions the place there shall be an enchanting story (like Harrison Burton profitable after discovering out he was out of a trip), just for it to be overshadowed by contentious debates round that driver being within the playoffs. Extra not too long ago, Shane van Gisbergen’s historic win streak on street/road programs changed into a dialogue over the legitimacy of his spot within the playoffs.
O’Donnell talked about the Daytona 500, particularly, saying: “I take into consideration how huge that race is, and one of many narrative is, oh, he is within the playoffs. Man, it is the Daytona 500. Sure, he is within the playoffs. I like that you need to win. No person can query — I’ll argue ‘until I am blue within the face that the racing has modified when it comes to, if you happen to bought to win the race, some racing has modified. So there’s a few of that component I do not wish to go away. After which simply future stars, drivers coming in, having a large number of races doubtlessly that you simply gotta put a physique of labor collectively. So I take into consideration all these issues. I am not making a gift of the place I am at, however I I fully acknowledge the place we’re at right this moment. I additionally acknowledge that numerous of us which are on the market fairly vocally had been a part of this, proper? And everyone stated, ‘hey, here is what we’ll do.’ All people signed up for that.
“So, I feel all I’d need is wherever we go, we’ll talk that, however we’d like the trade to purchase in. The largest factor is we’d like the drivers to really feel like no matter is in place, I’ve the shot, and we will begin questioning, if one thing occurs, possibly look within the mirror, versus possibly one thing occurred in a one race state of affairs. That is the place I am at.”
Shifting away from (some) spec components within the Subsequent Gen automotive?
Common view
Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photos
Curiously, O’Donnell additionally indicated that the established order with the Subsequent Gen (or Gen-7) automotive might change sooner or later, with the sanctioning physique prepared to open the door to extra engineering and innovation once more. The automotive has been criticized for its spec nature and the way the groups cannot innovate and tweak on their equipment the best way they as soon as might.
“We’re at all times open to alter,” stated O’Donnell “The one piece that i actually have a look at and I feel our group does is you have bought this automotive, you bought some issues contained from a value standpoint, however what does everyone actually like? The flexibility for a staff to possibly tweak on the automotive, discover a bonus, do one thing cool. What is the subsequent iteration of that that may come from a race staff. Now that we have got the components and items, I feel long-term you possibly can have a look at possibly a race staff is making components once more. Possibly some various things you possibly can open up. Might you ever have a look at a value cap, proper? So, you open these issues up. However we have no less than type of stopped the wasteful spending, and now we wish to get it again to the place an engineer can are available in, tweak on a automotive, or an OEM can say, ‘hey that is my IP and I wish to drive one thing from a brand new know-how standpoint.’ We’re completely open to persevering with to tweak on it. I feel we virtually needed to cease the bleeding of the prices, and now actually focus on you bought the baseline, now make the racing higher.
He went on to repeat the purpose about getting prices beneath management, and that it is now potential to take a look at a return to some ‘old-school components’ and permitting engineers to tweak some issues in an effort to achieve a aggressive benefit.
“What occurred with us was there wasn’t plenty of nice belief between our competitors group and the groups,” admitted O’Donnell .”We have executed plenty of work to enhance that, have some good dialogue, and it was at some extent the place we requested the groups to take part and go, ‘hey, do you wish to make this particular half?’ Financially, it did not make plenty of sense, and there in all probability wasn’t plenty of belief back-and-forth both. You quick ahead to now the place these conversations are taking place. Might Roush make this, might another person make this half? And I feel that begins to doubtlessly open it up. Unsure we’ll get there, however I agree with you (Dale Jr.). Getting again to that identification of what it’s versus simply this automotive over right here that nobody form of put collectively. There’s some work to do there.”
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