NASCAR: Series still planning hybrid engines for 2024

Friday at Phoenix Raceway NASCAR executives held their annual state of the sport address. Among the subjects discussed was the move towards hybrid engines, electrification and how it’s all going.

“I think we’re taking a really holistic approach across all of our series,” NASCAR chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell said. “It’s not just electrification. We are still moving forward with our existing OEMs to look at putting a car together, how does that look, what is the entertainment value around that, what’s the raceability. Those plans are moving forward.”

“You also have to look at fuels in the future, how is that going to affect things, he said. “You’ve got hydrogen, all kinds of things to look at.”

“The good news for NASCAR is we’re positioned really, really well across all three of our national series platforms,” he said. “You also have IMSA. The ideal world for NASCAR is you can show up at a racetrack and you can see any form of motorsports you want, any type of power, electric, hydrogen. You want to see some loud engines going out there, that’s NASCAR, too.

“All that is going on behind the scenes. A delicate balance with the OEMs, some down one lane, some all over. Our job is to manage that.

“At the end of the day our job is to put on entertaining races. Guarantee you’ll hear from (NASCAR president Steve Phelps) and (NASCAR CEO) Jim France: If it’s not entertaining, we’re not doing it. We’re going to make sure whatever we do will have that aspect for the fans.”

“I think as soon as next year you’ll start to see some things in terms of development, in terms of on track,” O’Donnell said. “Still targeting ’24. You’ll see us do a lot of different things during next year also.”