Is NASCAR gearing up to switch gears toward electric cars? At the “State of the Sport” address in November 2023, NASCAR’s COO, Steve O’Donnell, hinted at some electrifying possibilities. He had mentioned that while NASCAR might not hit the track with the new crossover EV in race mode, the electric dynamos could make cameo appearances at select events in 2024 [that’s not yet confirmed]. Adding more fuel to the speculation, he revealed plans to jet off to Japan the same month to explore the world of hydrogen-powered racing.

Now, recently, a NASCAR insider, Adam Stern shed some light on the electrifying topic, discussing the potential shift towards electric and hydrogen-based vehicles. He suggested that NASCAR might eventually warm up to a hybrid model, but don’t expect them to jump on the all-electric bandwagon right off the bat. It seems like NASCAR is cautiously cruising towards a more sustainable future, one lap at a time.

Hydrogen racing could win over sound-loving NASCAR fans

Just recently, a leaked photo of electric vehicles sparked a buzz about NASCAR possibly going all-electric. But according to NASCAR insider Adam Stern, a reporter at Sports Business Journal, there’s more to the story.

He believes, “There’s skepticism in the broader OEM industry and car industry right now about electric and that’s trickling down on NASCAR. On top of that, on top of the skepticism, you have the fact that, of course, NASCAR fans love loud cars and that whole ambiance of being at the track and all the different senses. One of them is, of course, the sound. So, I think from that regard, I think NASCAR has been careful about it- ‘We’re not going to go all in on the electric right away.’”

Stern also mentioned that while hydrogen racing might not be the definitive answer, it’s certainly catching people’s attention. He sensed a move towards some form of hybrid technology. “I don’t know if hydrogen is the answer, but seems like everyone’s keeping their eye on that as well, so clearly it’s going to be some sort of hybridization. I don’t think we’re just going to keep ice engines for decades to come. But it seems like NASCAR has been very careful about saying, ‘We’re not going all in on the electrization’.”

As a matter of fact, hydrogen combustion could be a viable alternative, offering the beloved engine roar while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Toyota, one of NASCAR’s key manufacturers, has already demonstrated this with a prototype Yaris rally car that sounds almost traditional and emits just water vapor.

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Rewinding to 2021, when Bob Pockrass tweeted a statement from Steve Phelps about NASCAR introducing hybrid engines by 2024, it caused quite a stir. However, as Denny Hamlin pointed out, implementing such sustainability projects could take much longer than anticipated, suggesting that the road to change might be a long one.

Denny Hamlin does not believe that hybrids can be seen anytime soon on the track

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Denny Hamlin, the owner of 23XI Racing and #11 driver of the JGR Toyota Camry, recently weighed in on the crossroads NASCAR faces regarding the future of its vehicles. The sport stands at a fork in the road, having to choose between lithium batteries and hydrogen fuels. This pivotal decision hinges on discussions with the Original Engine Manufacturers (OEMs) of the sport, considering their roadmap for street cars.

Hamlin observed, “You’ve got our avid NASCAR fans that want one thing, you’ve got new fans that would like to see other things, you’ve got OEMs, that frankly, aren’t even aligned on what they believe the future is, whether it’s all lithium battery or is it some sort of mixture with hydrogen. I think it’s going to take a while for this to play out, and it’s going to take years to play out to figure out where transportation in general in the U.S. goes and throughout the world.”

On the other hand, Roger Penske exuded confidence in hydrogen being a more feasible option than full electrification for NASCAR races. Penske, whose global dealership network gives him a broad perspective, said, “I think the hybrid formula seems to be something that will make a lot of sense as we go forward because we’ve been seeing electrification kind of slow down here lately.” 

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So, it seems that for NASCAR, the journey towards a more sustainable future might be more of a marathon than a sprint, with hybrids playing a crucial transitional role.