$500 Million-Worth Dana White Teases NASCAR Partnership as UFC Boss Eyes an ‘Electric’ Deal

Back in 2022, buzz started around NASCAR planning to “demonstrate a prototype electric racing car during the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum pre-season event in February,” and then roll it into a six-race series during weekends aligned with the Cup Series. These cars were supposed to be the beefed-up versions of the Cup Series cars, sporting fully electric, all-wheel-drive powertrains boasting nearly 1,000 horsepower, a significant bump from the 670 hp V8s traditionally used. Although this big move got delayed to 2024, NASCAR did unveil its potential electric racing model at the recent Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.

After that initial excitement, chatter about the electric cars died down amidst all the racing action. However, it looks like Dana White, the UFC president, who is a big NASCAR fan, is stirring up interest in electric cars again.

Is Dana White planning something big with NASCAR?

NASCAR recently wrapped up its first all-electric racecar, which debuted in February at the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum. While there’s been a lot of talk about electric vehicles gaining traction in the consumer market—their share has risen to just over 10% and is expected to hit 17% by 2028—it’s still a stretch to imagine all-electric racers hitting the NASCAR circuit anytime soon.

However, Dana White, the UFC president, has hinted at a potential involvement in NASCAR’s foray into electric vehicles. It’s a big shift, given that NASCAR has long been a proving ground for manufacturers to demonstrate the prowess of their vehicles with the old “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” strategy.

The push towards electric vehicles is being driven by global concerns over climate change, prompting actions from governments worldwide to cut down on carbon emissions. Today’s internal combustion engines significantly contribute to these emissions, and electric vehicles are seen as a crucial part of the solution.

Dana White is likely to step into the electric vehicle scene with NASCAR. During a conversation on the Flagrant podcast, White revealed, “I’m flying to NASCAR and we’re doing a deal with NASCAR. We’re going to be the electric series for NASCAR. Yeah, we’re working on that deal right now.”

Meanwhile, Formula E is eyeing a return to racing in Miami and has been checking out the availability of Homestead Miami Speedway, a NASCAR-owned track just 30 minutes from downtown Miami. They’re even considering the possibility of hosting a race around Dodger Stadium in L.A. With all these things happening in the background and Dana White’s latest comments, it seems NASCAR might be gearing up for a shift towards a hybrid, if not fully electric, future sooner than expected.

While this potential deal could draw a lot of attention to NASCAR from MMA and UFC fans, it won’t be a walk in the park. However, if they pull it off, this could open doors to more manufacturers and investors stepping into the sport.

Jim France has a shot at attracting more car manufacturers

Right now, only three big names—Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet—are in the NASCAR mix. Other car makers have indicated they might jump on board if NASCAR can weave a compelling story around hybrid cars or sustainable fuels. There’s talk that NASCAR could adopt hybrid technology by 2026 or 2027 if a new manufacturer, like Honda, decides to join, according to sources close to NASCAR’s plans.

If no new manufacturer steps up by then, stock car racing will likely have more wiggle room to phase in any switch to hybrid tech. NASCAR is actively exploring EV, hybrid, hydrogen, and sustainable fuel options at its research and development center near Charlotte. Ed Laukes, formerly a top executive at Toyota Motor North America, pointed out that the shift towards hybrids could help NASCAR ditch its old-school engine technology and make its races more relevant to today’s automakers.

Currently, NASCAR’s reliance on eight-cylinder gas engines—which aren’t found in most modern cars—restricts the marketing appeal for its existing manufacturers and makes it tougher to attract new ones. The challenge lies in evolving alongside the auto industry while maintaining the fierce competition and iconic sounds that fans love.

But given that, Formula E’s global fanbase surged by 17 percent to 344 million in December 2023, could adopting similar innovations be a game-changer for NASCAR too?