NASCAR's decade long search for a fourth manufacturer may soon be over as talks with Honda are "heating up,"according to NASCAR COO Steve O'Donnell.
Toyota was the last original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to join NASCAR in 2007. Until 2012, when Dodge left the sport, there were four OEMs competing. While NASCAR has held talks with Honda about entering the sport, nothing has happened yet, that is until news broke yesterday that talks are ramping up again. This coming as NASCAR's regular season kicks off this weekend in Daytona where, as Sports Business Journal notes, NASCAR will be hosting many high-level corporate titans including many from automotive brands.
Currently, Honda supplies engines to all major racing series worldwide, including being one of two engine providers for IndyCar, and will be returning to Formula 1 in 2026 with the Aston Martin team.
Despite O'Donnell confirming that talks are heating up, Chuck Schifsky, Honda & Acura Motorsports Manager, was more aloof when asked the question.
"As part of our role managing American Honda's motorsports programs, we need to investigate all forms of motorsport here in the U.S., and as a part of that process, educate ourselves on what race fans are looking for," Schifsky said. "With that said, we have nothing new to report in terms of our future motorsport direction."
It's interesting to note that disruptions in the auto industry, such as hydrogen and electric powered cars, are giving a boost to racing series' ability to convince car companies to market and develop their new technologies. NASCAR recently went to Japan to study hydrogen racing, and even developed its own electric race car that was set to debut at the Busch Light Clash, though due to schedule changes the debut hasn't happened yet.
There has been speculation that bringing in a new OEM could create problems for the existing manufacturers, but O'Donnell says this won't be the case.
"Our current partners are very open to new OEMs coming in and open to having conversations about that possibility," O'Donnell said. "They know that at the end of the day, being in NASCAR sells cars. It's a proven thing and it's a place OEMs want to be and should be."
