2022 Silly Season

Efisher131 said:
Toyota races a Camry. There's no reason they couldn't run a Honda Accord body
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Yes, but why would Honda want to join NASCAR?

They still don't have a truck and they still don't have a V8. I think if a manufacturer wants to join, they need to be all in. That includes Cup, Xfinity, and the trucks
 
Just cause it looks like a minivan doesn't make a Ridgeline not a truck, and I know it's a midsized but it wouldn't be the first time NASCAR lies about a cars stuff
2021_honda_ridgeline_crew-cab-pickup_sport_fq_oem_1_815.jpg
 
2 Sweet said:
I agree completely. But if any manufacturer is to join, I just don't see it being Honda
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Agreed. I see Kia as a more realistic manufacturer especially with them releasing a 2022 pickup truck. Then there's also Lexus with pickup truck rumors and they would be great for NASCAR
 
2 Sweet said:
Yes, but why would Honda want to join NASCAR?

They still don't have a truck and they still don't have a V8. I think if a manufacturer wants to join, they need to be all in. That includes Cup, Xfinity, and the trucks
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I saw a Honda truck, OK it was a van with the body chopped at the rear seats but then it is no worst than some other trucks. Datsun comes to mind. :)
 
2 Sweet said:
Honda in NASCAR just doesn't make sense to me. Nissan would be the most logical newcomer IMO
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Nissan has been in turmoil for the past few years and has little motorsports presence anymore. Honda has the Ridgeline that they could enter into the truck series. As far as the lack of a V8, that won't matter soon. The next generation of engines are likely to be a turbo V6 and the trucks run an Illmor sourced V8. Not sure about Xfinity, maybe they get an Illmor engine with Honda valve covers or maybe they go with smaller engines too.

Honda is big into motorsports though. IMSA, Indycar, F1 right now although that's going away after this season. They were in Global Rallycross until that folded. TCR road racing. They have a pretty big presence.
 
Honda is an interesting one that I’d like to see because they do have racing in their DNA and they typically throw all of their weight behind the racing projects they get involved in. However, that means there’s potential business limitations in place already…in 2019, the then-head of HPD suggested NASCAR would come at the expense of other racing programs both on a cost and overall capability/resources basis, and they’ve reaffirmed commitments to both of those recently. The same guy also admitted they don’t really have a full-size truck to compete with the existing OEMs either, which is typically an important marketing component of getting into NASCAR.

When Honda and NASCAR met at Phoenix later that year it was reported that a V6 was discussed, which could help HPD find existing commonalities with their IndyCar and IMSA programs and make a NASCAR program more likely. In the wake of its F1 exit, could some dollars from Japan find their way over here to help support the project? Maybe the formal unveiling of Next Gen and some more concrete budget figures have made the possibility more likely. Whatever it might be, something had to have changed very recently for progress to have been made. It can’t hurt that Jim France already had developed a good working relationship with the folks at HPD.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Honda is an interesting one that I’d like to see because they do have racing in their DNA and they typically throw all of their weight behind the racing projects they get involved in. However, that means there’s potential business limitations in place already…in 2019, the then-head of HPD suggested NASCAR would come at the expense of other racing programs both on a cost and overall capability/resources basis, and they’ve reaffirmed commitments to both of those recently. The same guy also admitted they don’t really have a full-size truck to compete with the existing OEMs either, which is typically an important marketing component of getting into NASCAR.

When Honda and NASCAR met at Phoenix later that year it was reported that a V6 was discussed, which could help HPD find existing commonalities with their IndyCar and IMSA programs and make a NASCAR program more likely. In the wake of its F1 exit, could some dollars from Japan find their way over here to help support the project? Maybe the formal unveiling of Next Gen and some more concrete budget figures have made the possibility more likely. Whatever it might be, something had to have changed very recently for progress to have been made. It can’t hurt that Jim France already had developed a good working relationship with the folks at HPD.
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R&D for engines is expensive, but with the next car being similar to Indy in terms of a spec chassis... I think HPD can squeeze in there, also I still feel as NASCAR should open the engine rulebook and allow different configurations.

Especially now NASCAR released the vendor list, its not like previously where teams would have a ballpark of where it should cost. Then proceed to spend more than expected, so everything is out in the open now. Honda Racing could interject and support the project as well, but I can see HPD doing this without curtailing what they do in open wheel and sports car racing.

Never know, honestly.
 
Kiante said:
R&D for engines is expensive, but with the next car being similar to Indy in terms of a spec chassis... I think HPD can squeeze in there, also I still feel as NASCAR should open the engine rulebook and allow different configurations.

Especially now NASCAR released the vendor list, its not like previously where teams would have a ballpark of where it should cost. Then proceed to spend more than expected, so everything is out in the open now. Honda Racing could interject and support the project as well, but I can see HPD doing this without curtailing what they do in open wheel and sports car racing.

Never know, honestly.
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Drop a spec motor in there and be done with it would be the cheapest of any route. Nascar can map out the HP easily. No use to re invent the wheel. I guess if you want to spend millions and listen to the sickening whine of a 6 or a 4 cylinder while everybody else is running a V-8, develop away.
 
StandOnIt said:
Drop a spec motor in there and be done with it would be the cheapest of any route. Nascar can map out the HP easily. No use to re invent the wheel. I guess if you want to spend millions and listen to the sickening whine of a 6 or a 4 cylinder while everybody else is running a V-8, develop away.
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Meh, that's just my opinion.

They should have options, especially if its not road relevant to them. No V8, no problem.
 
Snappy D said:
HMS has a new vice chairman
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Now Jeff is where he belongs. I followed his career since he burst onto the scene as a USAC driver, and became a fan the day he signed with HMS. As much of a fan as I was of him as a driver, I NEVER warmed up to him as an announcer, and personally, he will not be missed by me in that role. As hard as he may have tried, it always felt forced and he never seemed totally comfortable in that role to me. I also have long had a pet peeve with people who have ownership stakes in or employees of racing teams being announcers. I think it is a terrible and unnecessary conflict of interest. I feel he can be much more effective and impact the sport and HMS in this role. The company may have existed for a decade before he got there, and no disrespect to Mr H, but Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham MADE Hendrick Motorsports what it is. It was just another race team until they arrived. Congratulations Jeff and good luck!
 
Formerjackman said:
Now Jeff is where he belongs. I followed his career since he burst onto the scene as a USAC driver, and became a fan the day he signed with HMS. As much of a fan as I was of him as a driver, I NEVER warmed up to him as an announcer, and personally, he will not be missed by me in that role. As hard as he may have tried, it always felt forced and he never seemed totally comfortable in that role to me. I also have long had a pet peeve with people who have ownership stakes in or employees of racing teams being announcers. I think it is a terrible and unnecessary conflict of interest. I feel he can be much more effective and impact the sport and HMS in this role. The company may have existed for a decade before he got there, and no disrespect to Mr H, but Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham MADE Hendrick Motorsports what it is. It was just another race team until they arrived. Congratulations Jeff and good luck!
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Jeff is my all time favorite race car driver and one of my childhood hero’s. I too am in the agreement that while I don’t think he was the worst at broadcasting like some on here have said, it just never felt natural and the reason being is because I don’t think it was any secret this day was coming. I always thought being in the booth was a huge conflict of interest in that I could understand how others who are not fans of Jeff or HMS (like myself) would ask “how can this guy give me an impartial analysis when he is HMS all time wins leader, owns the 48 car, had a hand in his replacement in the 24 oh and he’s being groomed to take over for Rick” I get it. I can’t wait to see what Jeff does in this role, let’s hope the future is bright for HMS
 
2 Sweet said:
Right, and what does Honda have? They don't make a V8, they don't make a truck, they no longer care about offering a performance variant of their Accord.

Nissan has a production V8, they have the Titan to race in the truck series, and they have the Maxima that is certainly no less sporty than a Camry. They are a distant third in the Japanese car market behind Honda and Toyota, maybe even Mazda. They have had commercials lately advertising the performance/fun aspect of their vehicle lineup. Seems like the perfect time for them to jump into NASCAR.
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They also have a transmission that completely implodes at 100K
 
On the Honda front, one thing that does help is they HATE Toyota. With a passion. A series where they can go head to head with them has to be tempting.

Concerning the Ridgeline, it’s built on the same frame as the Odyssey actually. Being unibody is brutal though man, absolutely kills your hauling ability as those welds are nothing compared to a body on frame vehicle.
 
Kiante said:
- Brett thinks Honda is the new manufacturer that is interested in NASCAR (around the 65:00 mark onwards)
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I’ll believe it when I see it. That’s been in the rumor mills for too many years to count and the closest it ever got to reality was a report of Honda and NASCAR execs meeting in mid 2019.
 
Honda does a ton of car assembly (as well as aircraft and jet engines) in America. Yet I bet outside of those who care to find out, relatively few know this. Coming to NASCAR will give Honda the chance to make this better known...says the guy who drives a Honda Pilot assembled in Lincoln Alabama.
 
Hawaii808 said:
Call it a mini van or not, it's all the truck most will ever need. And I'm shopping one this weekend.
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Most people buy more truck than they'll ever need. Indeed many don't need a truck at all. The industry is doing nicely by people who want their egos fed.
 
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