Kevin Harvick Criticizes NASCAR for Low-Powered Cars
NASCAR has once again found itself under scrutiny, this time from former Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who has voiced his frustration over the sport’s low-powered cars. Harvick, a long-time critic of NASCAR’s recent aerodynamic and horsepower packages, believes that the current regulations are stifling competition and reducing the overall excitement for both drivers and fans.
In recent years, NASCAR has implemented restrictions on engine power, with most races now featuring cars limited to 550 or 670 horsepower. The intent behind these changes was to create closer racing by reducing speed differentials and increasing drafting opportunities. However, critics like Harvick argue that these limitations have led to less driver control, more reliance on aerodynamics, and fewer moments of pure skill separating the best from the rest.
Harvick, who retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2023 season, has been vocal about his concerns, particularly with the Next Gen car introduced in 2022. He believes the combination of reduced horsepower and high downforce has made passing more difficult and turned some races into processional events rather than the intense, strategy-driven battles fans love.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Harvick recently said. “We have some of the most talented drivers in the world, but we’re handcuffing them with low-powered cars that don’t let them show what they can really do.”
Fans and other drivers have echoed similar frustrations, calling for NASCAR to increase horsepower and give drivers more control over their fate on the track. Whether the sanctioning body will listen remains to be seen, but with growing discontent among veterans like Harvick, NASCAR may soon have to reconsider its approach to car performance in the modern era.
