Denny Hamlin Sounds the Alarm: Next Gen Cars Are Stifling Competition!
In a world where speed and strategy reign supreme, the NASCAR Next Gen (Gen-7) car has ignited a fiery debate among drivers and fans alike. Concerns are swirling around its performance, particularly on road courses and short tracks, where excitement seems to have hit an all-time low. Dirty air has become a nearly insurmountable challenge, leaving drivers feeling trapped in their positions on the track. A glaring example of this struggle was on display at Iowa Speedway, where even the race leader found it nearly impossible to lap slower cars.
Denny Hamlin, a prominent voice in the racing community, has not held back his criticism of the Next Gen car on his popular podcast, Actions Detrimental. He argues that the inherent flaws are suffocating the racing action that fans crave. However, contrasting Hamlin’s perspective is Kyle Petty, who has taken a bold stance in defense of the new vehicle. Petty insists that the car is “years ahead” of its outdated predecessors and while it may not embody the true stock car spirit, it still represents NASCAR racing. He proclaimed, “Everybody wants to point their finger and say ‘it’s the Next Gen’s fault.’ It’s not the next gen’s fault. There’s a lot of issues, and not only the car.”
Petty’s optimism is palpable as he highlights the thrilling finishes and intense moments that have emerged even in the new era. “They’re putting on some dang good racing every Sunday, if you ask me,” he asserts. Yet, Hamlin wasn’t about to let Petty’s words slide unchallenged. At Richmond, he offered a nuanced counterpoint, acknowledging Petty’s valid observations but emphasizing a pivotal issue: the competition has become homogenized.
“The field is just now running the same speed,” Hamlin explained. “At a track where you have to have three to three and a half tenths of speed to overtake the car in front of you, that means that the first-place fastest car is going to struggle to pass the 25th if he just gets put behind him.” This fundamental flaw is precisely what Hamlin believes needs urgent attention.
The stakes are high, and if the car’s design remains unchanged, the only glimmer of hope lies in tire technology. Goodyear is stepping up to the plate, introducing a more aggressive tire at Richmond Raceway, following a lackluster performance at Iowa where tire wear was minimal. “They are coming here with a more aggressive tire,” Hamlin noted, recognizing the effort and potential impact on the race dynamics.
Yet, Hamlin’s vision for improvement doesn’t end there. He has repeatedly called for a significant redesign of the car’s aerodynamic properties. “You have to get rid of the underbody downforce and put it on the over body so you have the ability, like you do in the Xfinity Series, to drive up behind someone and get them off the bottom.” This shift could level the playing field, allowing drivers to challenge the leader more effectively rather than being at a perpetual disadvantage.
As the NASCAR community grapples with these critical issues, one thing is clear: the Next Gen car’s impact on racing is far from settled. Will necessary changes be made in time to save the sport from a lackluster future? Only time will tell, but Denny Hamlin’s clarion call for reform may just be the wake-up call NASCAR needs to restore the thrill and competition that fans live for!