NASCAR Proposes 740–750 HP Short-Track Boost

Brad Keselowski, who left Team Penske in 2021 and is now a part‑owner of RFK Racing, has been a vocal critic of NASCAR’s Next Gen (Gen‑7) car, saying it forces him to drive differently, reduced his competitiveness and “feels like an old pickup truck.” Drivers including Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson have also complained about reduced power, grip and increased tire wear. NASCAR is considering increasing horsepower to roughly 740–750 hp for next season’s short‑track package to improve racing, though that change would raise costs. The Gen‑7 cars are officially listed at about 670 hp but are commonly running closer to roughly 685–690 hp in practice. Keselowski has overseen an RFK rebound — including Chris Buescher’s three 2023 wins and Keselowski ending a long winless streak in May 2024 — and has retooled team leadership and processes amid recent intra‑team incidents. He says he is cautious but hopeful the planned power changes will improve on‑track competition.