The future of NASCAR is trending toward hybrid technology. As the automotive market evolves, incorporating hybrid powertrains into stock car racing makes sense. However, transitioning to hybrid cars won’t happen overnight. NASCAR needs to strike a balance between tradition and innovation. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently spoke with Elton Sawyer about what this future might look like on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
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“We need a platform that will invite some new OEMs to come and participate,” Sawyer explained. “They love the Next Gen car. The one thing they’re not going to do, is they’re not going to build a V8, pushrod engine. So, we have to continue to develop and look at different platforms and options that will be inviting to those OEMs.”
“The conversations that our folks, John Probst in [development] and that group have had, that’s [a V8 pushrod engine] a dealbreaker right there. Where when Toyota came in, they actually didn’t have that engine and developed it and built it for the trucks. So, kudos to them that’s just not the world we live in today.”
NASCAR VP shares the hurdle for new teams
Bringing new manufacturers into NASCAR is crucial for the sport’s growth. However, it’s not without challenges. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, has been at the forefront of these discussions.
Some brands hesitate to join NASCAR due to various factors, including costs, technical requirements, and alignment with their brand image. Sawyer and Earnhardt Jr. likely explored ways to overcome these hurdles and encourage more manufacturers to participate.
“They’re on a different, they’re turbocharged. So, we’ve got to be prepared from the sanctioning body, similar to our sister company at IMSA, and how does balance of performance work?” Sawyer said. For 75-plus years we’ve raced the same type of engines, naturally aspirated, carburetors, cubic inches are all right there.
“So, from an officiating standpoint, that’s been fairly easy to police. When you venture into the balance of performance and torque sensors and horsepower and torque at the rear tire, that’s a different way to police your sport. We’re going to have to figure out how that looks to be able to, again, get new OEMs to come in.”
Elton Sawyer would have insights into the ongoing development process, including aerodynamics, chassis design, and performance enhancements. Dale Earnhardt Jr. likely sought information on how the NextGen car will impact racing and what fans can expect.
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