The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is facing a potential, game-changing transformation that could fundamentally alter its competitive landscape. Industry rumors are intensifying around a mandated shift to spec trucks by 2028, a move that would mark the end of an era for one of motorsport’s most cost-effective development series.

This speculation has sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community, with veteran insiders discussing the possibility of complete vehicle standardization.

Why Are Truck Series Rumors Gaining Momentum in the NASCAR Garage?

The bombshell revelation first emerged during Denny Hamlin’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast, where the three-time Daytona 500 winner shared garage intelligence that has captured widespread attention. Hamlin disclosed what he had been hearing from inside sources, though he was careful to emphasize the speculative nature of the information.

“From what I’m hearing, in the Truck Series, NASCAR’s telling them – this is what I’ve been told, this is a rumor; I don’t know if this is factual, but it’s a rumor – that they need them to go to spec trucks by 2028,” Hamlin revealed during his podcast discussion.

The speculation gained additional weight when veteran spotter Freddie Kraft addressed the topic on “Door Bumper Clear,” discussing the potential change with notable familiarity. Kraft referenced “either the ’27 or ’28 season” for the transition, describing trucks that would resemble “something that we see on Sundays.” This was a clear reference to NASCAR’s Cup Series Next Gen car, which introduced full-spec racing in 2022.

How Standardized Is the Truck Series Already?

The current Truck Series landscape already features considerable uniformity compared to other motorsports categories. Since 2018, all teams have utilized spec Ilmor NT1 V8 engines producing approximately 650 to 700 horsepower unrestricted, making the series unique among NASCAR’s three national touring divisions for its engine uniformity.

Teams currently maintain freedom in chassis construction and suspension components, which are areas where engineering expertise and budget differences create competitive advantages for well-funded operations.

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However, discussions among NASCAR fans have highlighted how many Truck Series teams operate on extremely old equipment, with smaller organizations purchasing decade-old chassis from larger operations just to stay competitive. Hamlin also mentioned that similar changes could affect the Xfinity Series.

“It’s going to happen in the Xfinity Series as well. Those guys are running cars that are old, old, old, old, old, old,” Hamlin stated. This potential dual transition would represent a massive shift across NASCAR’s developmental series, fundamentally changing how teams approach competition and equipment management in the coming years.