Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael McDowell go back and forth on NASCAR horsepower increase

A little bit of a friendly debate has broken out between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael McDowell about a horsepower increase. It appears that NASCAR is finally ready to try to bump up the power in the Cup Series Next Gen cars. The two aren’t seeing eye-to-eye.

The idea of a horsepower increase is to make passing easier on short tracks and other aero-dependent tracks on the schedule. Proponents say an increase will make cars harder to handle, increase the corner entry speed, and create longer braking zones.

That’s where passing happens on race tracks, not when everyone is mashing the gas, but when they lift or hit brakes. Who is brave enough and has the car capable enough of going deeper than the competition?

On Saturday, Michael McDowell expressed skepticism about an increase. “I think it’s just an illusion that some of the drivers and media are trying to paint,” he said during media availabilities at Nashville. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took exception to those comments.

Dale Jr. posted a GIF of Michael Scott from The Office saying, “Why are you the way that you are?” McDowell responded in kind.

“Because I am in touch with reality. 50hp isn’t going to do anything,” McDowell quipped back on Twitter/X. “200hp then it would be a great conversation but we are trying to make it something that it is not. The guys that complain are the guys that had a car advantage over the entire field, those days are gone. The competition is tighter, it is going to be hard to pass regardless of the changes we make. Tell me when we added power or speed and made the racing better?”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. responded soon after. He sees it differently from McDowell, for sure.

“It was my understanding that it was a consideration for the short tracks,” Earnhardt wrote back. “Knowing that these specific tracks themselves are in serious need of a change, why not go for it. It should induce more tire wear, higher corner entry speeds, longer braking zones. I know it’s a small change but well worth the opportunity to improve the short tracks. As a fan and broadcaster, I can get excited about that, even as a mere possibility.”

NASCAR has done tests on tires. They have tested new aero packages. They even experimented with taking the splitters off the cars. However, each test is usually only with a handful of cars at most. So, they get a good response from the cars. Then, they put it to the test in a race with 40 cars on the track, and those changes don’t react the same way.

There are a number of drivers who believe more horsepower is the way to go. Then you have guys like Michael McDowell who see it as bigger teams expressing frustration at the fact that the Next Gen gives the little guys a chance. Ross Chastain said he just doesn’t care, and he will drive whatever car they put him in with whatever power is in it.

At this point, NASCAR has tried everything to make passing better at short tracks. Nashville is a track where passing is difficult as well and it is over a mile long. So, why not try more horsepower like Dale Earnhardt Jr. said? Bump it from 670 HP right now up to 750+ HP. If that doesn’t do it, up the power to 800 HP.