Denny Hamlin Slams NASCAR for Inaction on Next Gen Car Improvements

After the Bristol weekend, it’s clear NASCAR’s Next Gen car needs significant work. The number of passes was incredibly low, with only four lead changes. Kyle Larson led 411 of 500 laps, leading fans to call the race dull, which spurred Denny Hamlin to criticize NASCAR’s inaction.

Hamlin’s Criticism on “Actions Detrimental” Podcast

On his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin discussed the lack of initiative to improve the Next Gen car. As a veteran involved in NASCAR meetings, he stated that officials are far from addressing the real issues.

Key Issues with the Next Gen Car

Hamlin pointed out a core problem: “The platform in which we run it on — where the back is squashed down to the ground and the front’s a foot in the air.“

He elaborated, “Of course, it’s bad in traffic. You get a front end that’s not on the ground. It’s in the air because we have to feed the underbody of the car. As soon as we get behind somebody, that thing just lifts right on up, and you got no front downforce.“

Xfinity Series Car Praised

Hamlin lauded the Xfinity Series car, noting how a driver in second place can affect the leader by getting close and disrupting their rear downforce. In contrast, the Cup Series car’s downforce is generated from underneath, so following closely doesn’t disrupt the lead car.

Proposed Solution: Pitch the Back Up

Hamlin suggests pitching the Next Gen car’s back up. He admits this is just one issue, along with low horsepower and tires that don’t degrade. However, he emphasized that the car’s platform makes racing in traffic difficult.

Cost of Proposed Changes

Altering the car’s aerodynamics might seem expensive, but Hamlin believes the parts wouldn’t cost much. He acknowledged that teams would incur expenses for new aero maps and related analyses.

“What I’m saying wouldn’t cost a lot of money in parts and pieces. Would it cost the team’s money to come up with new Aero maps and all this other stuff? Absolutely. Yes, it would.“

He explained the goal: “But the parts and pieces wouldn’t cost that much, right? It’s taking underbody downforce away from the car, having overbody downforce instead. That way, the back car can manipulate the front car, not the other way around.“

Worthwhile Investment

Even if costly, the changes could be worthwhile. Defensive racing has become prevalent, with lead drivers simply mirroring the car behind them, making overtaking nearly impossible. The sentiment is that this needs to change.