As the NASCAR Next-Gen car entered the Cup Series in 2022, it brought sweeping changes to racing dynamics, particularly at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega. However, the innovation has revealed a critical flaw affecting race competitiveness and driver strategy. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing and a prominent Cup Series driver, publicly addressed this problem during the opening weekend of the 2026 season at Daytona, pointing to an aerodynamic limitation that restricts overtaking and pack movement.
The Competitive Trade-Offs Since the Next-Gen Car’s Introduction
The debut of the Gen 7 Next-Gen car coincided with the return of NASCAR’s Chase format, building high hopes for an exciting new era. However, as the 41-car field took green flags at Daytona International Speedway, the persistent flaw became apparent. The current generation is praised as the safest in the sport’s history but comes with compromises, especially notable on drafting tracks.
The Next-Gen car’s design results in slower overall speeds and tighter groups of racers, compressing fields and hindering separation between cars. This packing effect reduces opportunities for drivers to make bold moves on the track and changes the fundamental feel of superspeedway contests.
Hamlin’s Early Experience Highlights the Drag Problem
Reflecting on his initial test run with the Next-Gen car at Daytona, Hamlin recounted the immediate impact of restricted airflow.
“I never will forget getting into this Next-Gen car for the very first time at a test in Daytona,”
Hamlin said. He described feeling sudden drops in engine RPM when trying to pull out of line during a draft, limiting his ability to make moves.
“I remember getting a run like a massive run like I had gotten in years past and I went to pull out of line and my rpm just went right down. It just stopped and I’m like, ‘I can’t pull out of line in this car.’”
Hamlin attributes this issue primarily to aerodynamic drag.
“The less drag that you have on the car, the better its fuel mileage will naturally get. It’s going to get better for everyone. I’m confident that the drag is the problem.”
Standardization’s Impact on Strategy and Racing Dynamics
The Next-Gen car was designed to create parity among teams by imposing strict parts standardization that eliminated many mechanical advantages historically used by larger teams. This approach shifted emphasis from engineering innovation to execution, placing a premium on pit crew performance and race-day tactics.
Track position is often decided in the pits, with crews optimizing fuel management and limiting tire changes to gain seconds. Drivers are advised to lift off the throttle and conserve fuel, which reduces the urgency and intensity of racing during a stage’s early and middle segments. As a result, superspeedway racing has adopted a pacing style dependent on strategic patience rather than raw speed or risk-taking.
Hamlin Calls for Adjustments to Improve Driver Control and Racing Excitement
Addressing the current state of superspeedway racing on his podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin criticized the reduction in driver agency caused by the Next-Gen car design.
“You can’t make those amazing moves like you used to, you just have to stay in line unless something crazy happens like the last lap where there’s a jumbling of cars,”
he said.
Hamlin suggested a possible fix to restore more dynamic racing:
“Let’s just let these things run by themselves, less drag.”
He advocates for adjustments that would reduce aerodynamic resistance, allowing drivers to rely more on skillful maneuvering and less on calculated fuel-saving.
Balancing Safety, Performance, and Spectacle Moving Forward
The Next-Gen car has successfully enhanced safety and provided closer competition through equalized equipment, but Hamlin warns these gains have also muted the sport’s excitement on superspeedways. By increasing horsepower and reducing drag, NASCAR could restore some of the aggressive racing traits that attracted fans.
Until such changes occur, the strategy-focused style will likely continue to dominate, with races determined more by conservation tactics than by decisive overtaking. Hamlin’s observations bring attention to the fine line NASCAR faces in blending innovation with tradition, safety with spectacle, and engineering constraints with driver freedom.
