NASCAR officials and teams are having serious talks about the future of the Next Gen car as the series heads toward 2026. The car, now entering its fifth season, was built to cut costs and keep the field close by using many single-source parts. That goal worked, but it also created new challenges.
Drivers and teams say the cars are too similar, which makes it hard to pass, especially on short tracks. NASCAR believes the sport is now in a better place to open up certain areas again.
Supply chains are stable, and the main parts of the car are well understood. With horsepower changes already confirmed for next year, the group is looking at ways to bring back some creativity while keeping spending under control.
Teams Push for More Freedom
Drivers and crew chiefs agree that the current limits make it tough to find an edge. Chase Elliott said the field is so equal that small gains matter more than ever. “We’ve talked about this before, but for sure, the more we’re the same, the harder it is to be different,” he said. He added that most tracks have one strong lane, and once the groove builds rubber, “it becomes really difficult to do something different than the guy ahead of you.”
Crew chiefs share that view. Adam Stevens from Joe Gibbs Racing said that more freedom would naturally create competition because teams could work on more than shocks and basic setup. Rudy Fugle from Hendrick Motorsports said he is “100 percent in favor of opening some things up,” explaining that even a small change in the rule book would bring new energy to teams.
Next Gen car Adjustments Under Review
NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell said the group is open to changes as long as costs stay contained. “The ability to tweak on the car and find an advantage to do something cool,” he said, is something teams want back. He explained that now that the major parts of the Next Gen car are stable, NASCAR can study areas where teams might build certain parts again under a cost cap.
Some crew chiefs believe adjustments could be made without raising budgets. Chris Gayle from the No. 11 team said NASCAR should revisit some underbody areas, noting that “there are some areas they could open up that wouldn’t cost anything.” Paul Wolfe from Team Penske said he likes rule changes because they create chances for teams to separate themselves early before others catch up.
Updates Already Confirmed for 2026
While the bigger “de-spec” ideas remain under review, several 2026 updates are locked in. Horsepower will rise from 670 to 750 on short tracks under 1.5 miles and on road courses. Some intermediate tracks, including Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Nashville, and Gateway, will use the short-track aero package with the higher horsepower. Chevrolet will also bring a refreshed Camaro ZL1 body with updated styling.
Safety rules will require A-post flaps everywhere, and testing procedures will be refined. NASCAR’s goal is to improve racing while keeping the cost savings that the Next Gen car introduced. More details on the 2026 rule package are expected later this offseason.
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