How Much Horsepower Do Daytona 500 Cars Have?

Daytona 500 cars run at approximately 510 horsepower, as mandated by NASCAR’s superspeedway rules for Daytona International Speedway. This reduced-output package, enforced via a tapered spacer on the 5.86L V8 “Next Gen” Cup engines, is designed to limit top speeds, maintain pack racing, and enhance safety; by contrast, Cup cars typically run about 670 horsepower at most non-superspeedway tracks.

What NASCAR Mandates for the Daytona 500

For the Daytona 500 and other superspeedway events (notably Talladega, and depending on the season, Atlanta when using the superspeedway package), NASCAR requires teams to run a reduced-power configuration that produces roughly 510 hp. This is achieved by restricting intake airflow with a tapered spacer on the naturally aspirated 358-cubic-inch V8 engines in the Next Gen Cup car. The policy has been in place since the introduction of the Next Gen platform in 2022 and remains current, balancing spectacle with safety at tracks where speeds can exceed 200 mph.

How Daytona Compares to Other NASCAR Cup Tracks

The horsepower rule at Daytona fits into NASCAR’s two-tier power approach for the modern Cup Series. The following list explains how power targets differ by track type.

• Superspeedways (e.g., Daytona, Talladega): Approximately 510 horsepower with a tapered spacer to cap speeds and foster pack racing.
• Most other ovals and road courses: Approximately 670 horsepower, allowing higher acceleration and more throttle response where sustained pack speeds are less extreme.

Together, these packages let NASCAR tune performance to each venue’s demands: restricting power at the longest, fastest tracks for safety, while enabling a racier, higher-output setup elsewhere.

Why Daytona Horsepower Is Limited

Daytona’s long straights and high banking generate extreme terminal speeds and tightly bunched drafting packs. Lowering horsepower reduces closing rates and mitigates the risk of catastrophic crashes, particularly in multi-car incidents. The 510-hp target preserves the hallmark drafting strategy of the event while helping drivers maintain control amid turbulent air and close-quarters racing.

Historical Context

From 1988 through 2018, Daytona used restrictor plates that typically cut Cup engines down to roughly 430–450 horsepower. In 2019, NASCAR shifted to tapered spacers, which deliver similar outcomes via a more refined method. With the 2022 debut of the Next Gen car, the sanctioning body set the current split: about 510 hp for superspeedways and about 670 hp for most other tracks. Since then, NASCAR’s updates have focused more on aerodynamics and safety refinements than on altering the Daytona horsepower target.

What To Know About the Engines

Under the hood, teams run purpose-built, naturally aspirated 5.86-liter (358 cu in) pushrod V8 engines. While the underlying powerplant can produce far more in unrestricted form, Daytona’s tapered spacer limits airflow—effectively capping output to the series’ superspeedway standard without changing the fundamental architecture of the engine.

Key Takeaways

The following points summarize the most important facts about Daytona 500 horsepower and how it fits into NASCAR’s rules.

• Daytona 500 cars run at approximately 510 horsepower under NASCAR’s superspeedway package.
• The reduced power is achieved using a tapered spacer that restricts intake airflow.
• Most non-superspeedway tracks use a higher-output 670-hp package.
• This approach balances safety with the drafting-centric style that defines the Daytona 500.

Together, these factors explain why Daytona’s horsepower figure is lower than at other venues and how it contributes to the event’s distinctive racing dynamics.

Summary

NASCAR Cup cars at the Daytona 500 are limited to about 510 horsepower via a tapered spacer on the Next Gen V8 engines. The rule curbs speeds for safety and preserves the pack racing that defines Daytona, contrasting with the roughly 670-hp setup used at most tracks throughout the season.

How much horsepower do the Daytona 500 cars have?

Aerodynamically optimized with powerful V8 engines, these cars can generate over 750 horsepower. This combination of aerodynamic design and raw power allows Daytona 500 cars to reach top speeds that are among the highest in NASCAR racing.

What is bigger, the Indy 500 or the Daytona 500?

Per the Sports Business Journal, it’s just the third time in the past three decades that the Indy 500 has drawn more viewers than the Daytona 500, along with the 1995 Indy 500 and the 2021 Indy 500.

How much horsepower does the NASCAR Daytona 2025 have?

NASCAR has pumped the brakes on increasing horsepower before the end of the 2025 season, despite many drivers calling for it. In June, the sanctioning body indicated that an increase from 670HP to 750HP was “on the table” and could be implemented before the end of the year, but that no longer appears to be the case.

What is the fastest speed at the Daytona 500?

222.971 mph
On October 9, 2013, Colin Braun drove a Daytona Prototype car prepared by Michael Shank Racing to set a single-lap record on the tri-oval configuration of 222.971 mph (358.837 km/h). During NASCAR events, it takes less than a minute for the cars to complete a lap around the 2.500 mi (4.023 km) tri-oval course.