Daytona Beach, Florida – The familiar roar of engines is back at the Daytona International Speedway this week as NASCAR returns for another thrilling season of racing. Fans from around the world have descended on the historic track for the iconic Daytona 500 weekend, marking the official start of the 2024 NASCAR season.
This year brings plenty of excitement and intrigue, with new drivers, new teams, and continued discussions of potentially bringing another major auto manufacturer into the sport. But one thing remains unchanged – the adrenaline-filled action and tight pack racing that Daytona is known for.
“Daytona is our Superbowl,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer. “It’s where legends are made and champions are crowned. And with a new season comes new possibilities for all our drivers and teams.”
O’Donnell noted that behind the scenes, NASCAR has been hard at work courting potential new manufacturers to join the sport. talks are said to be intensifying to convince Honda to expand their motorsports program to include NASCAR.
“The discussions are really heating up as we explore options to bring another major OEM into the fold,” O’Donnell remarked. We already have fantastic partnerships with Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet. Adding another powerhouse like Honda would be tremendous for the sport.
Honda had previously shown interest around the 2022 season but ultimately did not jump in. Now sources say negotiations have reopened, though Honda remains noncommittal on their future plans.
“As part of managing American Honda’s motorsports programs, we continually evaluate various racing series,” said Chuck Schifsky, Honda & Acura’s Motorsports Manager. “We educate ourselves on what race fans want to see. But at this time, we have nothing new to announce about our motorsports direction.”
NASCAR has been chasing Honda for years, though the manufacturer has focused mostly on IndyCar and other open-wheel series. But insiders say NASCAR’s leadership team of Jim France and Steve O’Donnell continue working all angles to convince Honda to take the leap.
Bringing in new manufacturers is seen as crucial for the health and viability of the sport long-term. When Dodge left NASCAR after 2012, it left a void that has yet to be filled. Toyota and Chevrolet have carried most of the sport’s team and driver ranks ever since.
“Having a diversity of manufacturers improves competition, expands our fanbase, and strengthens teams’ ability to attract sponsors,” said an executive with one top NASCAR organization.
Manufacturers provide technical and financial factory support for NASCAR race teams fielding their brand. This backing allows teams to invest in areas like research & development, talent acquisition and driver development programs.
Take Team Penske for example. As a flagship Ford team, they utilize cutting-edge wind tunnels, seven-post shaker rigs, and computational fluid dynamics simulations to prep their racecars. Factory backing enables them to consistently churn out some of the most advanced cars seen in the NASCAR garage.
More automakers participating translates to greater R&D innovation across the board, consequently ratcheting up the intense door-to-door action that fans live for. It also diversifies the make-up of race-winning drivers and teams, opening up possibilities for underdogs to take down powerhouse squads. Everybody wins.
Alas, even without a new manufacturer in the fold yet this season, the 2024 campaign is already shaping up to be a doozy.
Several megastars switched teams over the offseason, headlined by 2020 Cup Champion Chase Elliott departing Hendrick Motorsports to spearhead the nascent Legacy Motor Club organization. Kyle Busch meanwhile joins Richard Childress Racing to steer the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet.
Superstar crew chiefs also shuffled around, with Elliott bringing prized Hendrick Motorsports engineer Alan Gustafson to Legacy M.C. Kyle Larson’s former crew chief Cliff Daniels will now lead the No. 48 team alongside driver Alex Bowman.
And a heralded rookie class featuring Noah Gragson, Ty Gibbs and Zane Smith infuses extra intrigue, as these hotshot young guns vie for rookie-of-the-year honors.
In other words – hold onto your hats race fans, as NASCAR is primed for another season jam-packed with paint-trading action. The green flag waves with Sunday’s sold out Daytona 500, where 40 fearless wheelmen will battle for the Harley J. Earl trophy and kick off the 10 month fight for the NASCAR Cup Series crown.
Will experience prevail with savvy champions like Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr still chasing their elusive second titles? Or will the fearless new wave of talent usher NASCAR into a new era? Tune into Fox this Sunday February 19th at 2:30PM ET to find out, as the Great American Race roars to life once again under the Florida sun.
