NASCAR’s Future in Focus: EVP & Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst on Playoffs, Next Gen E
In an in-depth interview, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst offered a sweeping look at the current state and future direction of the sport, covering everything from potential playoff evolution and ongoing Next Gen (Gen-7) development to increased horsepower, new OEM involvement, major investments in officiating technology, and NASCAR’s growing portfolio of new and historic venues.
Playoff Format: A Living, Evolving Discussion
Probst confirmed that NASCAR continues to evaluate its playoff format with an open and data-driven approach. With the championship race returning to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026 and future rotation under consideration, Probst emphasized that NASCAR’s internal working group remains flexible and responsive to feedback.
“Every time someone makes a compelling argument, you have to be willing to hear it and sometimes change your position,” Probst said. “That’s happened multiple times throughout this process. Ultimately, we’re trying to land in the place that is best for the sport while threading the needle between entertainment and competition.”
Next Gen (Gen-7) Car: Four Years In, A Major Success
Four seasons into the Gen-7 era, Probst described the Next Gen platform as an “overwhelming success.” Built to modernize NASCAR, attract new OEMs, grow fan engagement, and most critically, improve the business model for race teams, the car has delivered competitively and economically.
Probst pointed to the rapid rise of newer organizations such as Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and Spire Motorsports, all competing for wins within just a few years of entry.
“These teams are less than three years into existence in many cases, and they’re already contending for wins and championships,” he said. “That tells you the platform achieved what it was designed to do.”
Ongoing performance gains—particularly on short tracks and road courses—have come through continuous development alongside partners such as Goodyear, whose tire innovation has dramatically increased tire fall-off and race strategy complexity.
Short Tracks, Road Courses & Controlled Creativity
One of NASCAR’s biggest technical balancing acts remains how much to allow teams to “open up” the car while maintaining cost controls and competitive equality. Probst acknowledged the tension that naturally exists between standardized components and racers’ desire for innovation.
“To open up too far without managing cost would be irresponsible,” he explained. “But we’re actively testing ways to allow more adjustability without exploding expenses.”
A key data-gathering test is scheduled for January at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where NASCAR will explore additional tuning options for short-track performance.
Horsepower Increase Coming in 2026
Responding directly to long-standing driver and fan requests, NASCAR will increase horsepower to 750 hp at tracks under 1.5 miles and on road courses beginning in 2026.
Probst clarified that while increasing horsepower is technically straightforward, doing it responsibly is not.
“If we push engines beyond their durability limits, we risk adding tens of millions of dollars in cost to the industry,” he said.
After extensive durability testing with OEMs and engine builders, NASCAR confirmed that the horsepower increase will be achieved via ECU mapping and tapered spacer changes only, with no major changes to the sealed engine program anticipated—preserving affordability and reliability.
RAM Returns: A New OEM Era Begins
Probst confirmed that RAM will officially return to NASCAR in 2026, entering the Truck Series with ThorSport/Crafting Racing. It marks the first new OEM entry into NASCAR in more than two decades.
“We’ve been ‘dating’ the RAM brand for a while now, and it’s exciting to finally welcome them back,” Probst said. “We’ve already been in the wind tunnel together, and we’re eager to see the truck on track in February.”
He also hinted that additional manufacturers are actively evaluating NASCAR, with the Truck Series serving as an efficient and logical entry point.
Why OEM Entry Is More Complex in the Cup Series
While all Cup cars share common underpinnings, Probst explained that OEM identity remains crucial in two areas that fans care most about: body design and engine competition.
“Our fans want their Mustang to look like a Mustang, their Camry like a Camry. They also care deeply about manufacturer engine competition,” he said. “That’s why the leap into Cup requires a much longer engineering and commercial commitment.”
$50M Technology Investment & Remote Race Control
NASCAR’s newly opened $50+ million production and technology facility in Concord is already transforming race officiating through remote race control, now fully deployed during the Playoffs and transitioning to full-season use by 2026.
With race teams collecting terabytes of real-time data every event, the centralized command center allows officials to review audio, video, telemetry, and car data with unprecedented speed and accuracy—without interrupting live competition.
“It gives us a buffer to evaluate incidents in near-real time without stopping the race,” Probst explained. “It has been a huge asset to competition integrity.”
Racing New & Historic Venues: A Car Built for Anywhere
From Chicago’s street course to Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, from St. Petersburg with the Truck Series to the return of legendary venues such as Bowman Gray Stadium and North Wilkesboro, the Gen-7 car was designed to span the widest variety of circuits in NASCAR history.
“When we built this platform, one of our central criteria was adaptability,” Probst said. “From superspeedways to street courses to short tracks, the Gen-7 car requires minimal changes across disciplines. That versatility lets us go almost anywhere.”
With the United States’ 250th anniversary approaching in 2026, NASCAR continues expanding both geographically and historically—balancing innovation with heritage.
The “Non-Racing Season” That Never Stops
Closing the discussion with a smile, Probst joked about NASCAR’s so-called offseason:
“There really isn’t an offseason in racing,” he said. “We just call it the non-racing season.”
Between car development, rule evolution, OEM integration, technology expansion, and schedule innovation, NASCAR’s competitive engine never truly stops.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the U.S. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 states in the U.S. with its national series including the NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series™.
