NASCAR’s introduction of the Next-Gen car in 2022 promised closer competition, cutting-edge technology, and a fresh era of racing. However, it quickly became evident that while the car delivered on some fronts, it failed to provide the thrilling on-track battles fans craved. The cars struggled in traffic, making passing nearly impossible—a glaring flaw that caught NASCAR off guard.
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, speaking on his podcast, shed light on NASCAR’s frantic efforts to address the issues with the Next-Gen cars. Hamlin revealed that he had repeatedly questioned NASCAR’s confidence in the new vehicle’s performance in traffic, well before its official debut.
“I tried to ask NASCAR eight months, ten months before this car was released, ‘Are you sure you have it driving correctly in traffic? All types of race tracks? This is our opportunity to build a car that is good on all different types of tracks.’ They’re like, ‘Yep, we’re sure,’” Hamlin said.
NASCAR’s Panic Moment Before the 2022 Season
According to Hamlin, NASCAR had a sudden realization just a month before the start of the 2022 season that the Next-Gen car had significant issues in traffic. This last-minute panic underscored the sport’s failure to address a critical flaw that would impact the quality of racing across various tracks.
“Then they had a panic moment one month before the season or two months before the season when they actually put it in traffic and realized, you can’t pass in it. So, that was… it’s unfortunate,” Hamlin admitted. “We’ve just been trying to wind this ball of yarn ever since trying to get it fixed.”
Ongoing Efforts and Small Wins
Despite the setbacks, Hamlin acknowledged the ongoing efforts from everyone involved in the sport to improve the Next-Gen car’s performance. Tweaks to the car and adjustments to the tires have been made in a bid to create better racing conditions, though success has been limited.
“It’s gotten better at some tracks and it seems that the tire is something certainly that shows fruit to better racing,” Hamlin added, highlighting the incremental progress that’s been made.
Hamlin’s Push for More Horsepower
One of the key points Hamlin has consistently advocated for is increasing the horsepower of the cars, which he believes would improve racing dynamics. Higher horsepower would force drivers to lift off the throttle earlier, creating more opportunities for overtaking—a crucial element that has been missing.
“The more you can get us out of the gas, which means if we have more horsepower, we have to let off sooner, that gives us the opportunity to overtake for the cars behind,” Hamlin explained. “Fifty horsepower, while it may not be a game changer, any horsepower gain will be an advantage for passing.”
The Future of Short Track Racing
Short track racing, once a cornerstone of NASCAR’s appeal, has suffered significantly with the introduction of the Next-Gen car. Hamlin, alongside others in the racing community, has been vocal about the need for drastic changes to restore the sport’s short track charm. With Goodyear still struggling to find the ideal tire compound, increasing horsepower remains one of the few viable solutions to bring back the excitement of meaningful overtakes.
NASCAR’s struggle to optimize the Next-Gen car highlights the complexities of modern racing and the challenges of balancing innovation with on-track performance. As Hamlin and others continue to push for changes, the hope is that the sport will soon find the right formula to deliver the thrilling races fans deserve.
