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NASCAR’s Next Gen Car Crisis: Rising Star Connor Zilisch Highlights Deep-rooted Flaws Amidst Years of Discontent

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 7, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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NASCAR’s Next Gen Car Crisis: Rising Star Connor Zilisch Highlights Deep-rooted Flaws Amidst Years of Discontent

Mar 2, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Connor Zilisch (87) walks out onto the stage for driver introductions before the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images

The 18-year-old prodigy of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Connor Zilisch, has brought to light the most pressing issue concerning NASCAR’s Next Gen car that has been the subject of much debate within the Cup Series community for years now. This young star didn’t mince words when he drew attention to the major flaws in the Next Gen car’s setup during an episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast.

Launched in 2022 with the promise of revolutionizing NASCAR by cutting costs, leveling the competition, and enhancing safety, the Next Gen car has seemingly missed the mark. Instead of cost reduction, teams have found themselves investing heavily in advanced data and simulation tools. Safety, too, has become a contentious issue, with drivers expressing their concerns about the car’s rigidity and the way it channels impact directly to the driver.

Zilisch’s revelation about the Next Gen car’s setup came during a comparison with a GT3 machine. He commented on the discomfort of the low rear run necessary for speed, which becomes particularly troublesome on low air. Zilisch referred to an incident where he collided with Daniel Suarez at COTA. The problem escalated from an inconvenience to a competition-impacting issue, as drivers grapple with a tricky balance between a setup for optimum speed and one for stability. The young driver confessed his own error in setup judgement during qualifying which adversely affected his performance.

Furthermore, the Next Gen car’s rigidity has come under scrutiny. Unlike its predecessor which allowed more body roll and a softer feel, the new model is stiff, making even tiny errors unforgiving. Zilisch emphasized the discomfort of driving the car, particularly when it doesn’t handle well.

These are not isolated sentiments. Veteran driver Denny Hamlin has publicly criticized the management for not addressing these issues. He voiced his concern over the aggressive setups required for optimal performance, which often compromise comfort and safety. This concern escalated after several accidents resulted in injuries, including concussions that led to Kurt Busch’s retirement and left Alex Bowman side-lined for races.

Jeff Burton likened the current situation in NASCAR to a “nuclear arms race,” with teams locked in a financial battle to gain the slightest edge through technology. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who initially acknowledged the potential of the Next Gen car, has also started to voice stronger reservations about the car, particularly regarding its durability.

Chase Briscoe summed up the general unease, stating, “The (car) needs to be as safe as it could possibly be. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. With the old car, you felt invincible, right? You could make these huge crashes and you’d get out and you’d be OK. And with this car, you haven’t had this same feeling.”

Zilisch’s struggle with the Next Gen car is indicative of the larger issue at hand – deep-rooted flaws in the car’s design. As NASCAR continues to tweak the car for future seasons, drivers are left to navigate a machine that is fast but unpredictable.

The introduction of the Next Gen car was supposed to bring about cost-effectiveness and parity among teams. However, its performance, especially at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), has raised questions about its effectiveness. The Cup Series cars trailed behind the Xfinity Series’ time, despite being theoretically superior.

This issue is compounded by the car’s reduced horsepower and increased aerodynamic drag. These factors limit straight-line speed, a critical factor on tracks like the COTA. This has resulted in a strange reality where Cup cars, despite being more technologically advanced, are being outpaced by Xfinity cars.

The debate over whether NASCAR’s focus on parity is damaging the premier series’ identity is back in the limelight. With the top division struggling against a lower-tier series, it begs the question if NASCAR needs to revisit its approach. Could a return to higher horsepower be the solution? Or does the series need a complete rethink of its aerodynamics? The future of Cup racing hangs in the balance.

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