The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville last Sunday was another example of how bad the Next-Gen cars are in short tracks. Other than few occasional dramatic moments the race lacked entertainment. The struggle drivers faced while traying to overtake and the lack of tier were the major reason for the poor race product as it has been since 2022.
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin who has gone through the same was very critical of NASCAR over the race package. He pointed out that the issues with the cars are the reason for lack of wrecks and cautions like in the past and urged the sanctioning body immediately fix it. He urged the racing community to speak up instead of staying silent.
So, now you’ve not only created the Next Gen of cars, you created a Next Gen of drivers that all drive the same. Because it’s clear the optimum way to drive it. So, how are you going to create passing? …And so, that is a problem. That’s why we don’t have the cautions, the wrecks, anything that we used to have from back in the day. We can’t even reach the bumper of the cars. The racing needs to be fixed. … If we sit back and do nothing, then shame on us. We deserve whatever’s coming to us in the long run. Denny Hamlin said via Action Detrimental.
Hamlin wasn’t the only driver to speak out about the poor race product after the Martinsville race. Drivers including 2021 NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson were critical of the fact that the races have become just a game of track position and the sport should immediately fix these issues.
Denny Hamlin breaks down the struggles he faced to pass during the race
Hamlin, while explaining how bad the race was, used an example from the race to details how tough it was. He pointed out that he was struggling to pass Team Penkse’s Austin Cindric in the final laps of the race despite having a much better car. The No:11 Toyota driver added that he couldn’t even do a bump and run with the car.
At the end of that race, I was trying my damnedest to knock Austin Cindric out of the way. He was holding me up bad. I don’t know how many laps down he was, maybe one, maybe two...I couldn’t get to him to knock him out of the way. I’m trying to knock this guy up the racetrack. I can’t do it. Can’t reach him. So instead, I have to just sit behind him and let the laps just go away. Denny Hamlin said.
The 23XI Racing co-owner has been voicing for a change in NASCAR’s 7th Gen car for many days but nothing has been productive so far. Increasing the horsepower or making tier with more wear are the easier solution for the issue. NASCAR has to come up with a solution soon as it can’t go on like this.
More must-reads: