Do Chevy NASCARs Use Chevy Engines?

Yes. In the NASCAR Cup Series, Chevrolet-branded cars are required to run Chevrolet-homologated engines—specifically the Chevy R07 V8—built and prepared by Chevy-affiliated engine shops. These are purpose-built racing engines designed to NASCAR rules, not production car engines, and they are supplied primarily by Hendrick Motorsports and ECR Engines under Chevrolet’s manufacturer program.

How NASCAR Links Engines to Manufacturers

NASCAR’s rules tie each entry’s body and engine to a declared manufacturer. That means a Chevrolet entry must use the Chevrolet-approved engine architecture and parts. While teams and partner engine builders assemble and develop these powerplants, the design, homologation, and parts approval flow through the manufacturer—in this case, Chevrolet—under NASCAR’s tightly controlled rulebook.

What Engine Is in a Modern Chevrolet Cup Car?

Chevrolet Cup cars run the Chevrolet R07 small-block V8, a race-only engine introduced in the late 2000s to replace the older SB2. It’s a pushrod, two-valve-per-cylinder design that keeps with NASCAR’s traditional architecture while integrating modern materials and electronics (electronic fuel injection has been mandated since 2012). Power levels are controlled by NASCAR through tapered spacers to target roughly 670 hp at most tracks and about 510 hp at superspeedways.

The following list highlights the defining elements of the current Chevrolet Cup engine package as raced in the Next Gen era:

• Architecture: Chevrolet R07 NASCAR V8 (purpose-built, not a production LS/LT derivative)
• Displacement: 358 cubic inches (≈5.86 liters), naturally aspirated
• Valvetrain: Pushrod, two valves per cylinder, 90-degree V8
• Materials: Cast-iron block with aluminum cylinder heads; dry-sump lubrication
• Fuel and electronics: Electronic fuel injection with a spec NASCAR/McLaren ECU
• Output: Approximately 670 hp at most venues; approximately 510 hp at Daytona/Talladega/Atlanta via spacers

Taken together, these specs reflect NASCAR’s balance of tradition and parity: an old-school, durable V8 design constrained by modern controls to keep competition close and costs contained.

Who Actually Builds the Engines?

Even though the engines are Chevrolet designs, most Cup teams don’t build them entirely in-house. Instead, Chevy teams source engines from two primary Chevrolet-aligned builders that operate within NASCAR’s rules and Chevy’s homologation framework.

• Hendrick Motorsports (Hendrick Engine Operations): Supplies engines to Hendrick’s own teams and select Chevrolet partners; known for championship-caliber output and durability.
• ECR Engines (Earnhardt-Childress Racing): A joint effort historically rooted in Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., ECR supplies multiple Chevrolet teams across the Cup garage.

Both operations build to the Chevy R07 spec with their own proprietary development, dyno work, and reliability programs, ensuring that while the engines are Chevrolet, there is still competitive differentiation.

Are Other NASCAR Series the Same?

Manufacturer-engine rules vary slightly across NASCAR’s national series. While Chevrolet branding appears across Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks, the exact engine programs differ to manage cost and parity.

• Xfinity Series: Teams can run manufacturer-based engines or NASCAR’s approved “spec” options, which aim to control costs. Many Chevrolet Xfinity teams use the spec engine pathway rather than a full Chevrolet homologated Cup-style build.
• Craftsman Truck Series: Most teams, including those in Chevrolets, use the Ilmor NT1 spec engine, a standardized package designed to minimize expense and level the field.

The upshot is that “Chevy” in Xfinity and Trucks often refers more to body and brand alignment, whereas the Cup Series retains a direct Chevrolet engine identity via the R07 platform.

Why It Matters to Fans and Teams

For fans, the manufacturer link reinforces brand loyalty—Chevrolet cars run Chevrolet engines in the Cup Series. For teams, it defines their technical path: parts sourcing, development partnerships, and factory support all flow through the manufacturer’s engine program, shaping performance and reliability over the season.

Summary

Chevy NASCAR Cup cars do use Chevy engines: the Chevrolet R07 V8, built by Chevrolet-aligned engine shops like Hendrick Motorsports and ECR Engines under NASCAR’s rules. These are race-only, Chevrolet-homologated powerplants—not production engines—and their output is tightly regulated for parity. In other NASCAR series, Chevrolet-branded entries may use spec engines, but in the Cup Series the Chevrolet identity extends to the engine itself.

What engines do NASCAR Cup cars use?

NASCAR Cup cars use naturally aspirated V8 engines with a displacement of 358 cubic inches (5.8 liters) and a pushrod valvetrain, manufactured for the different teams by designated suppliers: Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota use engines built by Roush Yates Racing (Ford), Hendrick Motorsports/Earnhardt-Childress Racing (Chevrolet), and Toyota Racing Development (Toyota), respectively. These are custom-built, high-output race engines, not related to the engines in their production street car counterparts.
 
Key Specifications 

• Engine Type: V8, naturally aspirated, pushrod valvetrain.
• Displacement: 358 cubic inches (5.8 liters).
• Horsepower: Up to 670 horsepower.
• Torque: Around 530 lb-ft.
• Fuel System: Electronic fuel injection, not carburetion.
• Construction: Custom-built, using a compacted graphite iron block and high-lift camshafts for high power output.

Manufacturer Suppliers 

• Ford: Engines are built by Roush Yates Racing for all Ford teams.
• Chevrolet: Engines are built by Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR) for Chevrolet teams.
• Toyota: Engines are built by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) for Toyota teams.

Comparison to Street Engines 

• NASCAR engines are designed for extreme endurance and high power output, while modern street car engines prioritize fuel efficiency, often using more advanced overhead-cam valvetrains.
• The pushrod design used in NASCAR engines allows for larger displacement and airflow, but it is a more traditional design compared to the overhead-cam engines found in most modern vehicles.

What engine was banned from NASCAR?

NASCAR has banned several engines throughout its history, but two prominent examples are the Ford 427 SOHC Cammer due to its advanced single overhead camshaft design, and the Chrysler 426 Hemi because of its overwhelming dominance, which led to fears of uncompetitiveness. Additionally, the engine in the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was also banned, not due to rule-breaking, but because GM corporate policy prohibited its factory entry into the competition.
 
The Ford 427 SOHC Cammer

• What it was: A high-performance V8 engine with single overhead camshafts (SOHC) and electronic fuel injection, designed to compete with Chrysler’s Hemi. 
• Why it was banned: NASCAR banned overhead camshaft (OHC) engines, making the Cammer ineligible for stock car competition. 
• Aftermath: Ford shifted its focus to drag racing, where the engine became a legendary and dominant force. 

This video explains why the Ford 427 SOHC Cammer was banned from NASCAR: 38sRare Car StorysYouTube · Feb 12, 2025
The Chrysler 426 Hemi 

• What it was: An incredibly powerful and compact engine that quickly achieved a high level of success in NASCAR. 
• Why it was banned: The Hemi’s dominant performance was so overwhelming that it was banned to “level the playing field” and restore unpredictability to races. 
• Aftermath: The ban wasn’t permanent, and the Hemi was allowed back into NASCAR after rules were revised to ensure its availability in production cars. 

You can watch this video to learn about the history of Hemi engines in NASCAR: 55s4 Wheels ChroniclesYouTube · Sep 23, 2023
Other Notable Banned Engines 

• Smokey Yunick’s “Mystery Motor”: This advanced Chevrolet engine was banned by NASCAR before it ever raced, though not for breaking rules but due to the potential for it to completely rewrite the sport’s history.

Why is Dodge not allowed in NASCAR?

Ultimately, Dodge chose to withdraw from NASCAR, citing the inability to secure a partnership with a team that met its high standards for competitiveness and technological innovation.

What engine does Chevrolet use in NASCAR?

Chevrolet’s current NASCAR engine is the R07, a 358 cubic-inch (5.8-liter) V8 with a pushrod valvetrain and two valves per cylinder, built by Hendrick Motorsports and ECR Engines. This naturally aspirated, liquid-cooled engine is a bespoke racing design, not a production engine, and can produce over 850 horsepower when unrestricted. It features a compacted-graphite-iron block and is a descendant of the iconic small-block Chevy design, with internal cooling passages and a dry-sump lubrication system.
 
Key Specifications & Features 

• Engine Type: 358 cubic-inch (5.8-liter) V8
• Valvetrain: Pushrod-actuated two-valves per cylinder
• Block Material: Compacted-graphite-iron
• Cooling System: Internally integrated coolant and oil passages
• Lubrication System: Dry-sump system that holds six gallons of oil
• Fuel Delivery: Holley EFI throttle body

Development & Purpose

• The R07 was introduced in 2007 and has been refined in collaboration with NASCAR teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing. 
• Its architecture maintains the basic small-block Chevy design, but with advanced materials, tighter tolerances, and improved surface finishes for higher performance. 
• It is a true racing engine, with internal components designed for high RPMs (around 9300-9600 RPM) and high horsepower output. 

This video shows how a NASCAR engine is built: 1mStay TunedYouTube · Mar 29, 2024
Performance

• While capable of revving to 10,000 RPM, the engine’s RPM is limited on the track. 
• In unrestricted trim, the R07 is known to produce over 850 horsepower, with continuous effort from engine builders like ECR to find even minor gains. 

You can watch this video to see a NASCAR engine swapped into a street car: 58sStay TunedYouTube · Aug 24, 2024