NASCAR Considers Horsepower Increase for Cup Series
Bubba Wallace, driver for 23XI Racing, has expressed strong support for increasing the NASCAR Cup Series’ horsepower from 670 to 750. This discussion follows recent comments from NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, Elton Sawyer, who confirmed that the proposal is "on the table."
In a conversation with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Sawyer emphasized the collaborative efforts among stakeholders, stating, "We are working closely with all the stakeholders in the industry… This particular topic was discussed during a team owner council meeting last week."
Addressing media ahead of the Nashville race, Wallace remarked, "I think [more horsepower] would help out everywhere… We’re having to operate inside the sandbox that we’re given." He pointed out that the current car configurations have diminished overtaking opportunities, which has created a very competitive but static racing environment.
Wallace elaborated on the potential benefits of increased horsepower: "It just puts it back in the driver’s hands and that’s what we want." When asked for his ideal horsepower level, he jokingly suggested “1,000," before clarifying, “750 at least or higher, just to see if it’s as easy and somewhat cost-efficient as they’re saying."
He expressed frustration over the stagnation in horsepower levels, emphasizing, “What are we scared of? We’ve been saying it for years that we want more horsepower… let’s do something.”
The discussion surrounding this potential increase reflects ongoing efforts by NASCAR to enhance competition and driver control in the Cup Series. Further developments on this front are anticipated as discussions continue among teams and NASCAR officials.
