NASCAR Rumor: Next-Gen Control Arm Manufacturer Potentially Quitting NASCAR Amid Roush Manufacturing’s Take Over - EssentiallySports

Oct 15, 2024

Sep 27, 2024 | 2:44 AM PDT

Debate

Will the exit of the Next Gen control arm manufacturer shake up NASCAR's competitive balance?

Brad Keselowski knows the feel of steel as well as the feel of the wheel. Such has been his experience at RFK Racing – a NASCAR race team whose dynamic nature knows no bounds. Although the team was dormant for some years before Keselowski’s arrival, his co-owner’s manufacturing brand was very active. This brand may be well-prepared to pave NASCAR’s race car future.

The Next-Gen car, as we are well aware, is made from spec parts assigned by different vendors. Jack Roush had already dipped his toes there, with Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions—also co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer and engine builder Robert Yates’ son, Doug Yates—responsible for over 50% of NASCAR Ford FR9 engines and engine components, among other things. And now to propagate his business ever wider, the 82-year-old business tycoon might be ready to take up more space in the Gen 7 car with another organization if the rumor mills are true…

As per ‘NASCAR Rumors & Nostalgia’, another spec part manufacturer is exiting, leaving its responsibility of manufacturing Next Gen car control arms in Roush’s hands: “For those that care, I hear that the Next Gen control arm manufacturer, Visser Precision (owned by Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser), is getting out of NASCAR, and Roush Manufacturing will take over, I assume starting in 2025. Roush already makes some components for the car.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

While the news cannot be independently verified as of now, if true, it’s going to be an interesting development. Notably, Jack Roush’s partnership with NACSAR extends to Roush Yates Manufacturing (which is not the same as Roush manufacturing). Founded in 2008 as a division of Roush Yates Engines, the company received a boost in 2021. It ventured outside of motorsports and diversified its services for the defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors.

Doug Yates said then, “We had a really good group of people, very talented people and a lot of equipment. It set us up to go out, branch out, and make parts outside of racing.” Notably, when the Next-Gen car debuted in 2022, Roush manufactured parts including, but not limited to, anti-roll bars, shifters, transaxle mounts, and may soon branch out for a heavier presence in NASCAR. On the other hand, Barney Visser has also been an integral part of the stock car racing organization, both as a team owner and a businessman. If you don’t recall, Visser owned Furniture Row Racing—the team Martin Truex Jr won his lone Cup Series Championship with, in 2017. However, they shut down a year later owing to sponsorship woes and issues with technical alliance partner Joe Gibbs Racing.

The team owner had said in a statement back then, “We’ve been aggressively seeking sponsorship to replace 5-hour Energy and to offset the rising costs of continuing a team alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing but haven’t had any success. I feel that it’s only proper to make the decision at this time to allow all team members to start seeking employment for next year.”

As for their continued tie-up with NASCAR outside racing, Visser Precision “has been a trusted partner of the 78 NASCAR race teams” with their expertise lying in building “critical components crucial for racing success, including engine parts and aerodynamic elements”. Interestingly, despite news of a rift, the organization’s official website has NASCAR listed as a major aspect.

A post shared by NASCAR Rumors & Nostalgia (@nascarrumornostalgia)

Will the exit of the Next Gen control arm manufacturer shake up NASCAR's competitive balance?

Debate

This marks a major development, echoing Roush’s earlier ventures as well. For instance, one of its primary clients is L3Harris Technologies, and the division helps make military communication devices. It was also in talks with SpaceX to work on its Starlink satellite system. Similarly, their racing component is faring no worse. Although Brad Keselowski got eliminated in the Round of 16, RFK Racing has grown in the past two years. Chris Buescher spoiled playoff drivers’ hopes at Watkins Glen as he snapped his year-long winless streak.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

These are just a few instances where Jack Roush’s enterprise has produced magic. He paved the way for a brighter future in NASCAR in 2021 with a unique milestone.

Previously known as Roush Fenway Racing, the NASCAR Cup Series team underwent a period of downfall. Once a five-car powerhouse competing for championships, it shrunk to two cars before 2017. Carl Edwards led the team to weekly wins until 2014. After that, it won only two drafting races under Ricky Stenhouse Jr in 2017 (until Keselowski took over in 2023). But even amidst their drab race performance, the team’s idealistic approach was on point. In 2021, it became the first team in all of NASCAR to go carbon neutral through the PAS 2060 standard.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The team began recycling equipment from its racecars more and worked with Ford to reduce its carbon footprint. To celebrate this milestone, Castrol decked up Ryan Newman’s No. 6 car at the 2021 Daytona race. Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark said, “We’ve always prided ourselves in being environmentally conscious to reduce our overall waste, recycle the cars, solar orientation of our buildings and those were one-off projects, driven by our chief sustainability officer. We didn’t have a holistic approach to sustainability.”

RFK Racing‘s advanced approach started even before Brad Keselowski’s entry. We expect to see revamped Next Gen cars under Roush’s leadership.