It’s been a dozen years since Dodge left NASCAR. A couple of years ago the manufacturer was rumored to be returning. As we all know, it didn’t happen.
Enter Honda. The American arm of the Japanese auto giant, which has shown interest in the past, jumped into the fray in December 2023 when American Honda Motorsports Manager Chuck Schifsky told RACER there was the possibility it might explore other series if changes didn’t happen in IndyCar.
“We’re looking for a wholesale change to the engine regulations so that we can eliminate fives and tens of millions of dollars of annual technical costs,” Schifsky said. “Because if we don’t, then it’s too much money, and we will go do something else. That something else could be NASCAR, or a further investment in our Formula 1 effort. Or something that isn’t motorsports at all.”
Honda to NASCAR Rumor Continues
Veteran motorsports journalist Marshall Pruett wrote the original story in December. This week on his self-titled podcast, a fan asked Pruett what kind of insight he might have in recent rumors about the manufacturer joining NASCAR in the future.
“When you have someone like Chuck answer the questions the way that he did, and specifically cite a racing series or multiple racing series, he also mentioned Formula 1,” Pruett said of Schifsky’s December remarks. “Anytime you name specifics, someone like Chuck, your ears should perk up and go ‘Ooh, that wasn’t by accident.’ I would say for anybody who’s followed the Honda thing a little bit, however many years in the past and seen it pop up here, keep following.”
NASCAR in Talks With Fourth OEM
While it might be easy for some to dismiss the Honda talk all as rumors and speculation, NASCAR President Steve Phelps admitted earlier this month at Daytona that they were in conversations with a potential fourth OEM.
What's on the horizon? #NASCAR President Steve Phelps talks with @The_ChrisMyers. pic.twitter.com/BXdwjwHcJu
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2024
“So we’re in talks right now with, uh, I can’t say who it is,” Phelps said.
“So it’s serious,” Chris Myers said. “We’ve heard Honda. I’ll throw it out because it’s out there.”
“Well, I can’t confirm or deny that,” the president responded. “It may be them. I don’t know.”
Stay tuned.