The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series could be in line for a major change within the next couple of years.
There is growing talk around the NASCAR garage that the series could introduce a new generation of car around 2028. Another potential change is also being discussed: the move from the current five-lug wheel to a single-lug system.
For now, neither change has been officially confirmed by NASCAR. But the rumors are not coming completely out of nowhere.
Why is a New O’Reilly Car Being Discussed?
The biggest reason is simply that the current car has been around for a while.
The O’Reilly Series, formerly known as the Xfinity Series, has continued with essentially the same basic car while NASCAR has completely transformed its Cup Series machinery.
The difference is particularly obvious with the wheels. O’Reilly Series cars still use five lug nuts, while the Cup Series’ Next Gen car uses a single center-locking lug.
Toyota’s current O’Reilly GR Supra is also built around a traditional stock-car formula, with a 5.8-liter V8, four-speed manual transmission and five-lug wheels. The series has made adjustments over the years, but it has not gone through the kind of complete technical reset that Cup experienced when the Next Gen car arrived in 2022.
That is why the idea of a new-generation O’Reilly car is attracting attention.
It does not necessarily mean NASCAR plans to copy the Cup car. The organization should keep some of the characteristics that make the O’Reilly Series different while updating the areas that have become outdated.
And there is evidence that NASCAR is at least thinking about what comes next.
NASCAR executive vice president John Probst recently addressed speculation about possible crossover-style vehicles in the O’Reilly Series. He explained that NASCAR has been researching CUV concepts, but stressed that this does not mean a CUV has been approved or is coming to the series.
Where Does the Single-lug Rumor Come From?
This part of the story has a much clearer source.
Veteran crew chief and Spire Motorsports competition director Kevin “Bono” Manion recently discussed the possibility on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.
Manion said there was a rumor that the O’Reilly and Craftsman Truck Series could eventually move to a single-lug wheel. His comments were reported by The Daily Downforce.
And the idea itself would not be completely new to NASCAR.
The Cup Series has already been using a single center-locking lug since the introduction of the Next Gen car. Moving the O’Reilly Series to the same basic wheel philosophy would give NASCAR’s top two national series more commonality.
It would also change the way pit stops work.
Instead of dealing with five lug nuts on every wheel, crews would secure the wheel with one large center fastener. NASCAR’s 2026 rules still specifically address loose and missing lug nuts in the O’Reilly and Truck Series, showing just how different the current system remains from Cup.
If the rumors eventually become reality, the interesting question will be what NASCAR actually changes.
The O’Reilly car does not necessarily need to become a smaller version of the Cup Next Gen.
The current cars have their own identity, and drivers have continued to talk about the different characteristics of the vehicles used across NASCAR’s three national series. The O’Reilly Series, in particular, has retained a more traditional stock-car feel.
That could be something NASCAR wants to preserve.
At the same time, a new generation would give the sanctioning body an opportunity to rethink the chassis, aerodynamics, wheels and other components.
NASCAR has already shown with the Cup Next Gen project that a new car can be used to introduce several changes at once rather than simply updating an existing model.
If the rumors prove accurate, the O’Reilly Series could be looking at a very different car, and a very different pit-stop routine, before the end of the decade.
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