Industry chatter has picked up around the possibility of a fourth Cup Series manufacturer joining NASCAR’s ranks. Reports have surfaced that two companies – Honda and Stellantis’ Dodge/Ram brand – are at the top of the list. According to NASCAR media, Dodge (via Ram) has formally applied to enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, a common first step for new OEMs, while long-running talks with Honda have also been acknowledged.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps told SportsBusiness Journal that the series is indeed in “deep discussions” with potential OEMs and that a couple of companies “are really kicking the tires hard” on entering the sport. Any new brand would mark the first Cup Series expansion since Toyota debuted in 2007.
NASCAR executives have publicly signaled an open door to a new partner. Phelps noted that adding another OEM could create “more balance” in competition and bring fresh funding to teams. He stressed that even if a deal were reached today, the prep work (engine development, homologation, etc.) would take time.
Similarly, NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell has repeatedly said conversations with new manufacturers are underway. In 2023 he told reporters that talks with Honda were “heating up” and that NASCAR’s existing manufacturer partners were “very open to new OEMs coming in”. On a recent podcast, O’Donnell confirmed “we are having conversations right now with an OEM,” indicating progress even if no date is set. He cautioned that any new entrant must fit NASCAR’s entertainment model – for instance, balancing innovation (hybrid or electric technology) with the sport’s trademark V-8 thunder
Dodge/Ram’s Return: Dodge (through the Ram truck brand) is widely cited as the leading candidate. Sources report that NASCAR has received a formal submission from a manufacturer to join the Truck Series in 2026, and that Dodge/Ram is believed to be that company. The truck series route is a natural one: Dodge won three Truck manufacturer titles in the early 2000s, and Ram trucks currently exist as stock-car models. Because the Trucks use a spec Ilmor V-8 engine, Dodge could field Ram trucks next year without developing a new powerplant .
Most reports say Dodge aims to follow the Toyota model: race in Trucks first, then introduce a Cup car later. In fact, The Athletic and Hagerty Media both note Dodge is looking toward a Cup comeback by 2027–28, and that the company has even begun searching for an engine supplier for a future Cup program. (For context, Dodge last ran a factory Cup effort in 2012 and ended its Truck factory support in 2016) Stellantis has publicly played this down for now – Dodge’s spokesman Rick
Deneau told Hagerty “we have nothing to announce”– but insiders say preliminary deals with teams have already been explored. For example, during earlier discussions Dodge even talked with Ford-aligned RFK Racing about a potential partnership should Dodge decide to return.
Honda’s Potential Move: Honda’s name has surfaced repeatedly in these discussions. NASCAR has long sought a Japanese OEM and has “been in discussions with Honda for years” to bring the brand into stock cars. The timing is driven in part by Honda’s own plans: Honda’s American racing arm has indicated it might exit IndyCar after 2026 if costs remain too high. As Honda motorsports manager Chuck Schifsky said in late 2023, if IndyCar budgets can’t be reined in “that something else could be NASCAR”. Journalist Marshall Pruett has noted he is more worried than ever about Honda leaving IndyCar, hinting that a Cup entry could be in the cards.
On the record, however, Honda has offered only boilerplate. A company spokesperson recently stated there was “nothing new to report” on Honda’s future racing plans. Still, NASCAR sees advantages: Honda sells millions of cars in the U.S. and has a storied motorsports pedigree. It also has extensive hybrid and electrification expertise (through Acura’s IMSA program and its F1 engine work) that could influence NASCAR’s technology roadmap if it joins the series.
Teams, Technology and Competition: A new manufacturer would inevitably shake up team alliances and technical rules. Teams not currently aligned with Chevy, Ford or Toyota would stand to benefit. NASCAR officials note that additional OEMs bring “more balance” and sponsorship dollars, potentially helping mid-tier teams on smaller budgets . Fans are already speculating which outfits might switch. For example, Stewart-Haas Racing (now Ford) has been mentioned in rumors as a potential Honda partner, and Dodge’s ties to Tony Stewart’s drag-racing team have drawn attention.
Any new OEM would also want competitive hardware: Dodge has reportedly pitched using its upcoming Charger platform and teaming with an engine builder by 2028. Honda, on the other hand, might push for hybrid power or other new tech. Dale Earnhardt Jr. voiced a common caution: “What are we willing to do to get them in? Is it hybrid engines? Is it less horsepower?” he asked on his podcast, warning that NASCAR must be careful “about how you evolve away from” its V-8 tradition. NASCAR is preparing on that front: it has already prototyped hybrid and electric stock cars, signaling flexibility for a new OEM’s technology.
Where It Stands: For now, nothing is official. NASCAR has reiterated that discussions are ongoing, but has not set a timeline. Phelps and O’Donnell have made it clear they want another manufacturer, but even they concede that past announcements have stalled and that any deal will take time to iron out. Dodge’s official line remains one of non-commitment – focusing on its NHRA drag-racing efforts and “not expanding” into other series right now – while Honda similarly says it has “nothing to report” about switching from IndyCar to NASCAR.
With the 2025 season approaching, teams and fans will be watching closely. If a fourth (or even fifth) manufacturer does join, it would mark one of the biggest changes in two decades – reshaping team loyalties, on-track competition and NASCAR’s development path. As Phelps put it, adding another OEM could be “a good thing” for the sport. Until an announcement comes, though, the sports’ balance of power and its future direction remain a matter of waiting, watching and wondering.
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