The ongoing debate over car performance in the NASCAR Cup Series reached a fever pitch in 2025, with veteran Kevin Harvick’s horsepower demand sparking passionate responses from both drivers and fans. As teams and officials discuss the limits and future of the Next Gen race car, the conversation now focuses intensively on whether current engine specifications, capped at 670 horsepower, hinder the sport’s excitement and competitiveness.
Throughout recent seasons, concerns have grown across pit lanes and garages, as NASCAR drivers repeatedly question if the current 670 horsepower configuration allows for the kind of head-to-head battles and passing opportunities fans crave. Notably, at the Nashville event, Joey Logano openly discussed the technical aspects needed for more exciting racing, stating,
“It’s definitely cool. I like it. I want to do it. Like, not just the engine, but the drive train. It’s got to be beefed up more. … You want to just make the racing better, right?”
—Joey Logano, Cup Series Driver. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin remarked that even an increase of 80 to 100 additional horsepower could have a substantial effect on race dynamics.
Proposals for Higher Horsepower and NASCAR’s Cautious Approach
NASCAR has been considering proposals to boost the horsepower of its Cup Series cars, with suggestions to raise the maximum output to 750 horsepower, especially for short-track races. Backers of the idea—including several drivers and insiders—regard 750 as the minimum threshold for delivering a noticeable change, asserting that deeper braking zones and a greater need for driver skill would emerge if more power were restored.
The rationale behind these suggestions centers on making on-track battles less about aerodynamic performance and more about driver capability. Increased horsepower is seen as a way to bring back moments where throttle management and tire wear dictate the racing, instead of aerodynamic “dirty air” and stable tire performance. However, NASCAR has shown reluctance to implement these changes quickly, citing the need to carefully balance adjustments in engine power with aerodynamic and tire changes. Officials have targeted 2026 for any significant modifications, stating that complex factors demand cautious transition.
Despite discussions and occasional test sessions, not all in the garage are convinced by the preliminary adjustments. Kevin Harvick, speaking with Fox’s Bob Pockrass on his Happy Hour podcast, noted,
“Everything that I’ve heard that they put it in and the driver couldn’t even tell, that they have changed the horsepower. It needs a ton of horsepower. It needs to be faster.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Driver. He elaborated on the complexity and cost implications, saying,
“When they lowered the horsepower, the price of the engines went up and the valve train has become so important… I don’t think we need to turn the engines 10,000 RPM, but I think that the cars need to go faster than they do today.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Driver.
Tommy Baldwin, competition director at Rick Ware Racing, observed that recent power increases in test sessions did not result in substantial changes on the racetrack, further fueling uncertainty about whether marginal increases are sufficient to restore the desired excitement for drivers and fans alike.
A Look Back: Comparing Generations of NASCAR Cars
The current debate is informed by sharp contrasts to earlier generations of the NASCAR Cup Series car. During the Gen 6 era, top teams could run setups that pushed engine power close to 900 horsepower, depending on the track. Drivers from that period reminisce about how much those cars demanded from them—sliding out of corners, preserving tire grip, and balancing throttle to master off-speed handling.
Engine restrictions began to tighten in the 2010s for reasons tied to cost containment, competition parity, and safety, reducing the baseline to 750 horsepower in 2015, then further down to 550 horsepower in 2019. The current 670 horsepower Next Gen limit is the latest iteration, designed in part to ensure close racing and financial sustainability for teams, yet this shift has often been cited as making cars less difficult to drive aggressively, and producing less side-by-side racing on short tracks and intermediate ovals.
Veteran drivers argue that these earlier, more powerful packages required greater skill and willingness to take risks. The limits imposed by modern car design, improved aerodynamics, and a wider tire footprint, however, have made incremental power changes feel less dramatic. Many in the sport insist that merely increasing engine output won’t fully address NASCAR’s racing product without additional moves to evolve tire construction and car balance.
Fan Reactions: Calls for Change and Nostalgia for Raw Racing
Public sentiment has become increasingly intense, with many fans lamenting the results of years of horsepower reductions. The reduction in engine output, they argue, has stripped the spectacle of its former unpredictability and edge. One fan commented,
“I mean I’d still take it over not moving it up. If it makes passing 5% easier on a slick track, why not. But yeah go back to the 900-1000 HP and keep making tires softer.”
—Unattributed Fan. This statement captures a broader push to both restore prior levels of power and reintroduce softer, more challenging tires.
Online discussions frequently reference past experiments and driver opinions about the horsepower dilemma. For example, another fan reflected on industry dialogue, saying,
“Multiple drivers have already said this and I didn’t think this was new information. There was a whole thing last year sometime where a bunch of drivers, I believe Kes and Bell being at the forefront, said that we’d need upwards of 900-1,000 hp to really feel the difference and achieve the result everyone assumes more horsepower will bring.”
—Unattributed Fan. Christopher Bell himself has acknowledged that, while greater power makes for more competitive movement by the fastest cars, it does not automatically guarantee tighter pack racing, particularly on shorter circuits.
Still others are quick to joke and reminisce about the tactile feel of older race cars. One enthusiast noted,
“Well yea. Look at the tires. Older generations were like racing on shopping cart wheels while these are like racing on tank treads. I say give em 2500 HP and make the back tire compound harder than me at age 14 watching the girls gone wild commercials.”
—Unattributed Fan. While exaggerated, the remark underscores dissatisfaction with the present tire formats. The larger contact patches on Goodyear’s current slicks have reduced the unpredictable oversteer and spontaneous slides that were once commonplace in stock car racing.
The technical implications of tire compounds and widths have not gone unnoticed. At the 2025 Bristol race, a softer right-side tire led to increased wear and overtaking, a shift that many fans touted as proof that modifying tire specifications can refresh racing. Yet questions remain—another voice added,
“I can’t help but feel like Goodyear wouldn’t be having to invent new compounds to soften the tire if there was just less rubber meeting the road. I don’t understand why they went with such a wide tire.”
—Unattributed Fan. Engineers have expressed similar sentiments, suggesting that too much width can lead to flattening the temperature curve, ultimately negating some of the benefits of increased horsepower.
The Broader Cultural Impact of the Horsepower Debate
For casual and longtime followers alike, the current horsepower debate reverberates far beyond race strategy or mechanical details. Many fans see horsepower as core to the sport’s identity, and the diminishing numbers often fuel perceptions that NASCAR has lost touch with its aggressive roots. This is accentuated when even non-fans react with surprise or disappointment on learning the current engine output.
“A step in the right direction is still a step in the right direction. One issue I’ve noticed when talking about the sport with non-fans is how embarrassing the HP number is. If they have any interest in racing at all they’ll inevitably ask about how powerful the cars are. ‘670 at most tracks. 550 at Daytona and Talladega’…‘Oh,… I thought it was more?’”
—Unattributed Fan.
NASCAR’s attempts at careful balancing—juggling spectacle, parity, cost, and technological evolution—reflect the many complexities facing series officials. Regardless, the ongoing uproar over Kevin Harvick’s horsepower demand and surrounding discussions make clear that what happens under the hood continues to fuel wider debates about NASCAR’s direction and emotional resonance for its base.
What’s Next for NASCAR and Horsepower Policy?
With major names like Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Tommy Baldwin voicing strong opinions, events in the coming years could determine whether the Cup Series returns to its high-horsepower roots or maintains its current approach. While NASCAR leadership is hesitant to rush implementation, these conversations are likely to shape not only technical rules but also fan engagement and the broader culture of American stock car racing.
Whatever future solutions emerge—whether through boosting the horsepower cap, modifying tire compounds, or further tweaking car designs—the intensity of this ongoing debate shows just how much is at stake. As Harvick and other influential figures keep the spotlight on what makes NASCAR thrilling, one thing is unambiguous: the demand for more power, speed, and drama is as vibrant as ever, and its resolution will influence how fans and drivers connect to the sport for years to come.
[Happy Hour 31 min] Kevin Harvick mentions that he’s heard drivers say they couldn’t tell a difference when HP was upped to 750HP in recent tests. Need way more horsepower to make a difference with the NextGen car.
byu/LBHMS inNASCAR
