NASCAR has been searching for over a decade to find a fourth manufacturer. The sanctioning body is eager to add another original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the sport, which currently comprises Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota. Even though Dodge left the stock car racing series in 2012, rumors have been circulating about the automobile brand re-entering in 2022. However, Honda seems to be the most likely candidate to join NASCAR, and talks with the Japanese company have been ongoing for years.

With Honda’s arrival looking imminent, fans have begun speculating on social media about which teams could potentially switch manufacturers for the Japanese team. Could a big team such as Hendrick Motorsports consider taking such a risky gamble?

Honda’s arrival could be beneficial to all parties

Honda seems like the perfect fit for NASCAR. Just like Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota, the company sells millions of cars to the American market while having a proud motorsports tradition. With NASCAR being a sure-shot way to increase sales, the Japanese manufacturer could benefit from expanding its horizons, especially because two-thirds of its cars are already being made in the United States. Seems like the logical move for the organization to compete against its rivals, not just in the market but also on the racetrack, right?

The company has quite a presence in the racing world, with last year’s IndyCar champion Alex Palou driving a Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. That’s not all, as the manufacturer has also been producing Red Bull Racing’s engines, which propelled Max Verstappen to win four World Championships in a row. Given their pedigree, it’s surprising that Honda isn’t already in NASCAR. Having more manufacturers in the sport is not just better for competition, but the overall health of the stock car racing series.

Just like any other motorsports discipline, NASCAR has a very real cost problem. Despite the sanctioning body making efforts to make it cheaper while maintaining its appeal, it still costs a lot of money for a single team to operate in any of its three national series. Honda’s arrival will bring with it a cash injection, as well as new programs for young and talented drivers to get an opportunity to shine. It will also give more options for teams to choose from, especially those who don’t have tier-1 status and are disillusioned by on-track results.

With Toyota already being a trailblazer in getting a Japanese manufacturer in NASCAR, Honda has a much easier job to just follow suit. Gone are the days when having a ‘foreign company’ join the stock car racing series would be met with resistance, and NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell has already confirmed that talks with Honda are “heating up” and are being met with open arms by teams. “Our current partners are very open to new OEMs coming in and open to having conversations about that possibility,” O’Donnell added. With the 2025 season on the horizon, the inclusion of a fourth OEM could take place in 2026 or beyond. However, that didn’t stop fans from speculating about the endless possibilities on social media.

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NASCAR fans speculate about teams that could join Honda

As expected, it didn’t take long for NASCAR fans to theorize about which teams could join the Honda banner, should they arrive in the stock car racing series. While joining any manufacturer who is new to the sport comes with its share of inherent risks, ultimately money can prove to be a big enough motivator to convince teams to switch sides. On that note, a fan wrote, “If the check is big enough, any of them.” However, if teams are already given priority by established NASCAR manufacturers, would they be convinced to start afresh, and risk on-track results? A fan doesn’t seem to think so, and wrote on Reddit, “Realistically, any team that isn’t currently at Tier 1 status with their OEM.”

Owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull, Trackhouse Racing doesn’t have much to lose by switching manufacturers. The team is ambitious enough to risk switching to a different OEM, as long as they are given priority treatment, which will help fulfill their NASCAR ambitions. The sentiment was shared by a motorsports enthusiast, who wrote, “Trackhouse would be perfect. They have the hype and potential to be a great team but IMO are held back by Chevy because of them not being HMS or RCR”. Echoing that sentiment, a fan brought another team into the mix, one that finished 25th in the owner’s standings at the end of 2024. The fan said, “Kaulig and trackhouse are the two that I see jumping if they ever do come over.”

Given their stature, history, and on-track results, it’s unlikely that the bigger NASCAR teams would risk switching to a new manufacturer as it may affect on-track results for the short term. With Bob Jenkins’ Spire Motorsports spending $40 million on a SHR charter in 2023, the team seems ambitious enough to take the risk, which could translate into big rewards. On that note, a Reddit user wrote, “The only ones I can’t see being willing to change manufacturers are Hendrick, Penske and Gibbs. Those three teams get too much support and are huge partners with their current manufacturers. I think any of the rest would be willing to change for the right price and partnership. Spire seems like the most obvious right now.” If Honda does make its entry in NASCAR, who do you think will partner with them?