Denny Hamlin confidently stated earlier this season that changes could be made with just “one phone call.” As we navigate through the 21st century, NASCAR has significantly adjusted its horsepower parameters. In the past, Cup Series cars had engines producing around 1000 hp. Today’s Next-Gen cars, in contrast, are limited to 670 hp, which is comparable to the power of a typical showroom sports car. Now, a teammate is supporting Hamlin’s stance.
Joe Gibbs Racing had a rough outing at Watkins Glen, with a series of setbacks affecting Hamlin’s car and his teammates struggling throughout the race. Hamlin subtly criticized NASCAR for including a road course in the playoffs, while Ty Gibbs seemed to amplify the call for more power.
Is Ty Gibbs advocating for 900 hp? Before the Bristol race, one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s drivers voiced a strong desire for increased horsepower. Despite NASCAR’s focus on cost control and competitive fairness, Hamlin was firm in his belief that reverting to the old 750 hp standard wouldn’t incur additional costs or affect durability. However, Ty Gibbs is now pushing for even greater horsepower after a disappointing performance at the Glen.
Goodyear’s introduction of a new tire compound didn’t seem to alleviate tire wear issues. Christopher Bell also expressed frustration over his inability to pass other drivers. This difficulty was highlighted by Hamlin previously, and Gibbs echoed this sentiment after the ‘Go Bowling at the Glen.’ NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck quoted Gibbs as saying, “Until you put 900 horsepower in these things, you’re not going to do anything. You cannot pass. Sometimes I feel like, is this car designed for us not to pass?”
Despite starting from 15th place, Ty Gibbs managed to climb to 4th by the second stage but struggled as his low-powered car hindered his progress. In the Xfinity car, you can cross people over and everything and in this thing, you can’t pass. It’s frustrating as a driver. I caught the guy in front of me from six seconds back, and I get to him and I just can’t do anything.”
Ultimately, Gibbs finished 22nd, one spot ahead of Hamlin, who also had a challenging race with multiple wrecks and spins. Despite Gibbs’ frustrations, his Xfinity Series performances at the Glen haven’t been without their issues, often due to other drivers rather than just horsepower limitations.
Low horsepower and Goodyear’s tire issues are significant factors in Cup Series racing. While the horsepower problem is less pronounced in the Xfinity Series, other challenges remain. Gibbs faced tough competition from Connor Zilisch, who made a strong debut in the Xfinity Series with a win.
Mayer went on to win, leaving Gibbs in 17th place.
Gibbs commented on the restart incident with Mayer, “I really wasn’t looking at my mirror like that… I think he wheel-hopped and wrecked us there. So just something he did with that was a mistake on his part and completely cleaned us out.” Despite this, Gibbs remains focused on his Cup Series ambitions, starting 4th in the upcoming race. He hopes that next weekend’s race at Bristol will provide some relief from these issues.
