NASCAR President Says There’s “No BS” About Potential New OEMs

What’s Happening?

In a new report, NASCAR President Steve Phelps claims that NASCAR is still speaking with new OEMs and that “something is going to hit.” This follows comments from late last season that a new OEM is “close” to joining the sport. However, there is no clear time frame nor clear options as to who that is.

• Phelps told Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal that NASCAR is having “robust discussions with a number of partners.” However, fans have heard this time and time again, like when he said on Nov. 8 that NASCAR was “close” to adding a new OEM, though he was “cautiously optimistic.”
• However, Phelps did address fans’ opinions about the legitimacy of what some view as “annual” comments about a new manufacturer joining NASCAR. Phelps told Stern, “I know that’s an answer I’ve given repeatedly over the last five years, but they’re facts. There’s no BS in the comment I just made.”
• Phelps also confirmed that V-8 engines are a major problem facing NASCAR in finding a new OEM. NASCAR brass, such as Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer, have spoken publicly about how new OEMs who do not make V-8s are cautious about joining the sport.
• NASCAR currently has three OEMs: Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. Toyota was the most recent to join, joining the Truck Series in 2004 and the Cup Series in 2007. The last time NASCAR had four OEMs was in 2012, the final season Dodge competed in the sport with factory support.

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