Many NASCAR drivers have recently expressed their desire for more practice time. On the eve of the 2024 Texas Cup race, these drivers publicly requested that NASCAR extend the practice session to allow teams more opportunities to improve their car development. This would have especially benefited Jimmie Johnson, who has been struggling in the Next-Gen era and has been struggling to perform consistently in race weeks.
A NASCAR Hall of Famer, through his podcast, has now presented a compelling argument as to why these demands should be taken into consideration. He highlighted the fact that with more practice, Jimmie Johnson could become more competitive. Additionally, he emphasized that the driver of Trackhouse Racing’s No. 84 Toyota, alongside Johnson, also deserves more time to improve.
Jimmie Johnson is facing significant challenges in the Cup series. Giving him more practice time would be of great benefit, as he has had to adapt his driving style to the new 7th generation cars. Extended practice sessions would offer him a fair chance to regain his previous success at the top, as he experienced during his peak years with HMS. Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) also deserves similar treatment, as he left behind a successful career in Supercars in Oceania to establish himself in the United States. Junior believes that SVG should be given a fair chance and not be provided with excuses for performing below his average level, thus justifying additional practice sessions.
In addition to defending Johnson and SVG, Junior made a strong argument for part-time and up-and-coming drivers to receive more practice time. He believes that this is the only way for these drivers to be competitive with full-time drivers. Therefore, granting both current Cup drivers and these rising talents more training opportunities can only lead to improved performance.
