Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Breaking news

NASCAR "confident" of finding fourth manufacturer for Cup Series

NASCAR is "confident" that it can add a fourth manufacturer to the Cup field sometime after 2020, and has not ruled out finding a fifth.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Office, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Mountain Dew, and Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Haas Automation/Mobil 1

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Office, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Mountain Dew, and Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Haas Automation/Mobil 1

Barry Cantrell / NKP / Motorsport Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Express, Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's, Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Discount Tire, Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro NAPA Auto Parts
2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Mustang
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's
Brad Keselowski, Penske Racing Dodge
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Discount Tire
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Discount Tire

The top-level series currently has three manufacturers in Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota.

It last had four manufacturers in 2012, Dodge's final season before it pulled out of NASCAR.

Rumors of Dodge returning have been ever-present since its exit, although earlier this year a source told Motorsport.com the firm was not currently looking to make a comeback.

Other manufacturers, including Nissan, which has a sizable presence in the American automobile market, have been linked to the series.

NASCAR president Steve Phelps said there is a "ton of interest" in the paddock in adding new manufacturers.

"The great news is that the three OEMs that we have - Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota - are all interested in having another one. Maybe even two," Phelps told NASCAR digital media.

"But the process is long. We won't see something obviously for 2019, we won't see something for '20.

"I'm confident that in the future we will have a fourth OEM and if we're lucky enough to have a fifth, that's great.

"I do think we'll have some success there, but it will be, I would say, years down the line."

Hybrid power in the future?

In NASCAR's yearly address to the media, Phelps also discussed the idea of alternative power in its championship.

Penske's Brad Keselowski has previously advocated hybrid power in the Cup series.

"Is electrification on the [agenda] in the future potentially? Yeah, it certainly is," said Phelps.

"Can I see a time in the future that we will have that? I definitely do.

"When we get there, how we get there, what it looks like, there's a lot of work to do between now and then.

"But I can assure you that we are looking at it right now."

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Chase Elliott named 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver
Next article Daniel Suarez: "I never felt I had everything to win" at JGR

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA