NASCAR is working with Goodyear to address issues with the Next-Gen car, according to Denny Hamlin.
The challenges aren’t limited to short tracks but extend across all types of races. Drivers, including Hamlin, have consistently pushed for more horsepower to improve the performance of the new car, but NASCAR has been reluctant to make those changes.
Instead, they’ve opted to work on tire solutions with Goodyear, which has shown some promise, though it’s still far from creating the optimal racing experience.
Hamlin, a vocal critic of the Next-Gen car, echoed Kyle Larson’s concerns, pointing out the fundamental issue.
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, he explained, “We’re trying to save this car or the concept behind it… Jared, you were right—it’s a car problem, and we’re attempting to fix it with tires because it’s the most cost-effective option.
The design wasn’t right from the start, and now this is the result.”
As for NASCAR’s future plans, a Next-Gen 2.0 model isn’t expected anytime soon. For now, the organization’s best course of action is to continue collaborating with Goodyear, while remaining hopeful that one race doesn’t overshadow the progress they’ve made so far.
