What’s Happening?

Perhaps the most talked-about rumor in the NASCAR world right now is that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will shift to a spec series in the near future. So where is this rumor coming from, and what does it mean?

During the latest episode of Action’s Detrimental, NASCAR Cup Series driver and team owner Denny Hamlin went viral in the NASCAR community. However, this was not for one of his usual controversial takes, but rather, giving a rumored time frame for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to switch to spec trucks.

Hamlin claimed that the rumor he heard was that NASCAR is telling teams in the Truck Series they “need them to go to spec trucks by 2028.”

Now, this would not be entirely unfamiliar territory for the series, as they are the only NASCAR National Series to run a spec engine developed by Ilmor. Though, as Hamlin was quick to remind his audience, many teams in the series still run on old and hand-me-down equipment.

While any rumor should be approached with caution, no matter the source, Hamlin was not the only one talking about this rumor early this week, as veteran spotter Freddie Kraft brought the potential change up during this week’s episode of Door Bumper Clear.

Though this was in reference to Hamlin’s comments, Kraft addressed these rumors with a level of familiarity. With Kraft saying it’s “either the ’27 or ’28 season” that the series will begin to race similar to “something that we see on Sundays.”

While this is not the first time this rumor has floated around the NASCAR world, it seems to leave fans with more questions than answers.

The Big Questions

Since NASCAR moved its top division, the Cup Series, to a “spec” car in 2022, rumors have long suggested that the lower two NASCAR National divisions would follow suit.

Of course, with this latest rumor tows the weight of many other questions about what a spec race truck could look like, and what it could mean for the teams.

The 2022 NASCAR Next Gen Car not only introduced NASCAR fans to a true spec car but also some untraditional features, such as the car’s rear diffuser, wider tire, and single lug wheel. In its four-year lifespan, the car has become a thorn in the side of large portions of the fan base and, subsequently, the sport itself.

While it has great on-track product at intermediate tracks, some fans and industry members feel as if the superspeedway, road course, and short track products have suffered for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, while it seemed at the time that fans would grow familiar with the new features, they are still often criticized by these same fans and industry members.

In the wake of these rumors, alongside the still youthful, yet controversial, lifespan of the NASCAR Next Gen car, has left fans wondering if the sport will take the Truck Series in a similar untraditional route or if they will reel in these changes and look to a more familiar design.

Flanking those questions about the rumored truck’s potential build are others about the potential financial impact of a shift to a spec truck. Ideally, this shift would save teams money in the long run, though the Truck Series teams will have to buy all new equipment right off the bat.

As of press time, NASCAR has yet to announce such changes for the Truck Series, but, as the sport continues to evolve, it seems likely that rumors and speculation about this shift to spec trucks will only continue to grow.

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