NASCAR released a list of suppliers back in 2021 that shows some of the CUP Series Next Gen suppliers are based outside the United States, such as the U.K.-headquartered AP Racing, which supplies the teams’ brake systems. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps said that NASCAR will be “Keeping an eye” on the situation, but the fact remains that several of the Cup Series Gen 7 car-sourced parts come from abroad.

Several team owners have car dealerships, such as Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske. There is now a 25% tariff on all cars made outside the United States which is something that has left the auto industry scrambling in recent weeks as all the major auto retailers in the US assemble many of their vehicles abroad.

This may mean there will be higher car prices for consumers: Increased costs for manufacturers could translate to higher prices for consumers purchasing new vehicles, potentially impacting the broader auto industry.

Reduced car sales and industry uncertainty will most likely negatively affect sponsorships and advertising investments by auto manufacturers and others. We are already seeing merchandise price increases, such as die-cast cars, which have already increased in price due to being manufactured in China.

It will be challenging to predict the long-term consequences of tariffs on the NASCAR industry as a whole, and there’s likely to be ongoing adjustments within the Cup Series, especially.

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