Brad Keselowski’s Latest Horsepower Claims Left Fans Begging NASCAR for More

Dissatisfaction with the Next-Gen car has often led NASCAR fans to reminisce about the Gen 6 cars, which ran in the neighborhood of 850 to 900 hp on Superspeedways and with high-downforce aero packages at shorter tracks. The result? Blistering lap times and impressive straight-line speed. This is exactly what the Gen 7 cars lack. Denny Hamlin even proposed bumping horsepower to 750, saying it would help the cars that are so planted to the track. Now, add Brad Keselowski’s claims to the already floating suggestions, and we might have some solid ground for the coming season.

On Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast, the 41-year-old revealed that the power output could climb to a thrilling 740 to 750 hp: “Well, you know, it looks like NASCAR is going to change the rules next year to where we’re like 740, 750 (horsepower). It’s not quite 100 because, you know, right now, technically, they’re at 670, but realistically, they’re like 685, 690, so.”

Brad Keselowski added, “The Next Gen car changed me in some ways for worse as a driver because you have to drive it way differently. You know, the cars in 2008, 2009, first off, were significantly faster. I don’t know if I can put into terms how much faster they were than the Next Gen car.” And you don’t even need to go back to 2009 to see the difference.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano won the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend with a 29.159 lap, while Keselowski set the track record in 2014 at 27.090. That sure is a huge difference! Today’s cars are rated at 670 hp, while they were nearing 900 hp in 2014. An even worse look is that Corey Heim won the poll for this year’s Truck Series race with 29.946 laps, and that wasn’t the only time a Truck beat a Cup car this year. Somewhat ironic, given the No. 6 driver’s description.

Bilder des Tages – SPORT April 21, 2018 – Richmond, Virginia, United States of America – April 21, 2018 – Richmond, Virginia, USA: Martin Truex, Jr (78), Chase Elliott (9) and Joey Logano (22) lead the field for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. NASCAR Motorsport USA 2018: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 April 21 – ZUMAa161 20180421_zaa_a161_119 Copyright: xStephenxA.xArce/xAspxIncx

But NASCAR officials have indicated they are looking into increasing the power for at least the short track package next year. This will hike up the costs, but improving racing is the main agenda. And this news has pumped up other drivers, including three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano. With teammate Ryan Blaney supporting the No. 22’s championship hunt, Logano said, “It’s definitely cool. I like it. I want to do it. Like, not just the engine, but the drive train. It’s got to be beefed up more… You want to just make the racing better, right?”

Amid Keselowski’s warning to NASCAR tracks about decreased ticket sales, the 2012 champion hinted at tweaks for the engine spacer. This could make the jump from 670 to 750 hp smoother for all teams, promising a 2026 season that could be one for the history books. And the fans are here for it.

NASCAR fans’ greed intensifies with the new increased horsepower push for 2026

As the fans breathe a collective sigh, the weight of not having enough horsepower has been lifted from their shoulders. Taking to Reddit, the fans did what they do best: appreciate the good things but want more. There was a raw, command filtered spirit in one comment, comparing the two Gen cars that are 11 years apart. One comment said, “I want 850-900, similar to what we saw late Gen 4 through 2014 Gen 6.”

That philosophy isn’t just nostalgia; it is a rallying cry for those who feel the Next Gen era has dulled some of the appeal of stock car racing. Another comment set the test on the durability of the cars, saying, “No horsepower limits. Let the engine builders go HAM and put out as much power as those piston rods can handle.” The idea was to let the cars breathe fire and let the drivers fight back on the machine that had rebelled. That sentiment still lingers among purists today.

“Obviously, I like 750 over 670, but I still want more power! Kevin Harvick mentioned 1000!” one outspoken voice declared, reminding everyone that what is now the ceiling once felt like a starting point. Harvick has been rallying for more horsepower since 2024. He had expressed his desire by saying, “I think there were a lot of things that were positive about the package this weekend. I still think it’s gotta have more than 1000 Horsepower. For the life of me, I cannot understand why we wanna keep spending millions of dollars on CFD and wind tunnels changing, changing parts, and changing pieces.”

He had even questioned the logic behind not allowing the cars to have more power and potentially blow the back tires for better performance. And now the NASCAR gods are almost there in fulfilling his wish.

One comment said, “Even if it doesn’t change the racing one bit, the rules package has undergone very few changes since the NextGen car arrived. Making changes like this should maintain the parity that currently exists. Too few changes and it gets harder for mid-pack teams to hit on something Hendrick, Gibbs or Penske haven’t found yet.” The desire isn’t for chaos; it is for expression, for creativity within boundaries, for mid-pack teams to still feel empowered.

And if anything, the current playoff is proof that such a scenario is necessary. The Round of 16 was dominated by the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, with Chase Briscoe winning at Darlington, Denny Hamlin winning at Gateway, and Christopher Bell winning at Bristol. Once the first race of the Round of 12 rolled, we saw Penske’s dominance. Ryan Blaney won at New Hampshire as Logano finished the race in fourth. Even Penske-affiliate Berry finished as runner-up.

Then came the exasperated cries that captured the current discontent: “Full season points? More HP? What the f*ck is going on?” Fans, drivers, and media all sense a drift away from the heart of the sport. This isn’t just about the point system or playoff formats; it is a push to restore identity, to let these cars sing again, and to let horsepower be more than a buzz and feel like the lifeblood it once was.

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