Published 03/23/2023, 8:10 AM EDT
If there’s one thing that a majority of people can agree on is this- NASCAR going electric is a bad idea. This isn’t just an opinion that is shared by the fans, but it’s one that even Joe Rogan agrees on.
Rogan is someone who gets it about the joy and pleasure that one can derive from driving and watching a fast car drive with an internal combustion engine. This much is evident from his insane car collection.
And as for the same engines being replaced by electric engines, that too, in America’s top stock car racing series, was something Rogan didn’t think would be a good idea.
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Joe Rogan believes NASCAR’s electrification could have disastrous consequences
During one point in the recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, guest Bert Kreischer wondered if there will be an electric NASCAR series at some point in the future.
“It would be wild if it was,” Rogan said. “But they would lose all the sound. I think that’s part of the thing people like.”
Kreischer reacted by putting an imaginary situation of going to the Daytona 500 and it being silent. “All you can hear is the chatter of the fans,” Rogan added. “That would be so f***ing creepy,” Kreischer said.
Rogan claimed an electric series would have people getting “bummed out.”
“I think NASCAR is like, it’s an American tradition that’s based on moonshine runners, so it’s like fun. You go to NASCAR, you wanna hear the *mimics engine sound*,” he described.
“If it was electric, it would seem like it’s over.”
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NASCAR could have an electric series in the future
Even though most of the fans and insiders are opposed to the idea of having electrification in NASCAR, the governing body remains open to that prospect. Last year, Steve O’Donnell, the chief operating officer of NASCAR admitted that they are exploring an electric future.
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“We are exploring some opportunities around an exhibition series in that space, and as everyone knows, there is a huge push across all of our OEM partners and potentially new OEM partners, so it is important for us to explore that space,” O’Donnell had said as per NBC Sports.
via Imago ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 19: The field takes the green flag during the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 on March 19, 2023, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA.Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAR 19 NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 Icon230319557
O’Donnell claimed “there’s a lot of interest” from their partners to be part of such an endeavor. Having said that, he added that their idea of NASCAR, “in an ideal world,” would be that it means “all things to all people,” so if someone went to a race weekend, they could see all types of technologies throughout the weekend.
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“So we will take a look at an electric series,” he added.