From the gritty rumble of Richard Petty’s Dodge Charger tearing up the ’70s to Dale Earnhardt’s black No. 3 Monte Carlo haunting the ’90s, NASCAR has always been about the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Ford’s Thunderbird—think Bill Elliott’s 1985 speed blitz. Those who know the sport’s history knew there were more car manufacturers in the picture. Who can forget Buddy Baker breaking the 200 mph barrier in a Dodge Charger? Those were the glory days of stock racing, and that’s where NASCAR wants to return. Its efforts to bring new manufacturers to the sport haven’t been a secret.

Ever since the end of the 2024 season, NASCAR has been in a tussle to bring more OEMs to the table, and NASCAR President Steve Phelps has revealed the 4th manufacturer to challenge Ford, Toyota, and Chevy’s dominance is close to joining the sport.

A global revolution is awaiting NASCAR with a new OEM ready to join the party

Phelps didn’t dodge the question: “Listen, we’re in some discussions. It’s a lot of work, right? There’s a lot of prep work that needs to happen even if we came to an agreement today. I don’t know what that timing is; to me, it’s really more about getting it done, making an announcement for a fourth, ideally, we’d have a fifth.”

Why the push? As Phelps laid it out: “It creates more balance, obviously, but also it allows for additional funding to teams that aren’t getting the funding some of the other teams are.” Picture this—more cash for underdogs, leveling the playing field against the big players like Hendrick and Gibbs. “They’ll come and advertise, talk about their brands, promote drivers—all of it’s accretive to the sport,” he added. That’s not just racing—it’s a marketing tsunami, pumping dollars and dazzle into NASCAR’s veins.

The formula is simple. NASCAR’s ‘Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday’ tactic is quite attractive for new manufacturers. In exchange, the field is more evenly spread out. With more OEMs competing in every race, NASCAR could see a new wave of entertainment enter the sport. Look at the way F1 treats its manufacturers. While NASCAR doesn’t give its OEMs the same kind of freedom, creating that sense of competitiveness remains important to the sport. This entertainment factor is something NASCAR desperately needs. Its dwindling viewership is a matter of concern and perhaps bringing historic and new manufacturers to Dodge and Honda might be the twist fans need.

More significantly, it could help them avoid a situation like Martinsville last year. Who can forget the Chevys and the Toyotas essentially working as rolling blocks for their drivers up front. The ensuing chaos and penalties were enough for NASCAR to realize a long-term solution was needed outside of simple regulations. A new OEM could bring just that to the table.

Who’s the mystery OEM, and will they shake up 2025?

NASCAR’s fourth OEM rumors heat up: is Honda revving for the Cup?

Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have ruled the asphalt since Dodge peeled out in 2012, leaving a void fans still mourn. Doug Yates, whose engines roar in Cup, Xfinity, and beyond, sees a ripe stage post-2024’s nail-biting season. Unlike F1’s Red Bull stranglehold or IndyCar’s Honda-Chevy duopoly, NASCAR’s a wide-open brawl—perfect for a new OEM to jump in and slug it out.

Honda’s the hot name, and it’s no shock. Word is, their IndyCar deal might sputter out after 2026—could NASCAR be the next pit stop? Yates, the engine-whispering wizard of Roush Yates Engines, is grinning too. “It’s definitely moving in the right direction,” he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I think we’ll see new OEMs in the Cup Series in 3 to 4 to 5 years.” When Yates talks—head of Ford’s powerhouse since 2003 alongside Jack Roush—we listen. Is he holding an ace up his sleeve?

Imagine it: Honda’s sleek muscle squaring off with Chastain’s Chevy or Suárez’s Toyota at a race weekend. Yates, with

Hendrick Motorsports as Chevy’s engine kings, knows the game—more OEMs mean more chaos, cash, and competition. Phelps backs it: a fourth (or fifth!) manufacturer could turbocharger NASCAR’s vibe.

Fans, we’re on the cusp—three to five years feels like forever, but the wheels are turning. Honda or bust—who’s your pick for the new kid on the track?