The Next-Gen cars were introduced by NASCAR in 2022. It aimed to increase the downforce on the cars and make them attractive for new OEMs to enter the field. However, these regulations arrived with lasting consequences due to the cars inability to produce power efficiently. Short track racing, the root of NASCAR was the most affected by this change.
The horsepower of the cars has been quite low when compared to the immense increase in downforce and mechanical grip on the wide tires, thus ultimately making the drivers feel the car is sluggish. The lack of passing opportunities and traffic issues became a big burden as it reduced the overall entertainment in short tracks. Ex-NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer has the perfect ways to fix it.
Bowyer, after witnessing the struggles of drivers with Next-Gen cars, made several recommendations for the series to improve its racing. The 44-year-old explained that the horsepower needed to be turned up and the ride heights should be increased, while bump drafting and wide tires on the stock cars should be done away with. These changes fall in line with the consensus that drivers have and would help increase the race ability in the series.
Number one, max horsepower, which guess what we have been saying for years. Number two, ride height rules, CG is too low. Number three, fix the bumpers where they don't line up so you can't push eachother. Number four, make the wheel tire one and a half to two inches more narrow. Brett Griffin said via DBC Podcast.
Experts demand separate packages for different tracks
Since the introduction of the Next-Gen cars, the separate packages used for ovals, speedways, and short tracks have been done away with. Whereas earlier, each car had to run strikingly different cars for different tracks. This has urged several drivers and viewers to raise their voices to bring back the previous regulations for different tracks.
Spotter T.J. Majors on the same podcast stated the lack of different chassis for such tracks. Moreover, it is bizarre for the sport to run like this as the two tracks have a juxtaposition in terms of their characteristics and require a different package, especially short tracks.
Now you are trying to take a car right now, and run pretty much anywhere. The short-track package needs to be something completely different. We can't take the same stuff that's gonna work at Talladega.... and think its gonna work at Martinsville. T.J. Majors said.
Despite the drivers and fans wanting such overhauls in the regulations, there is no sign of change just yet. However, due to increasing pressure from within the organization regarding Next-Gen cars, a change could be lurking just around the horizon.
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