Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin’s crew chiefs, Cliff Daniels and Chris Gabehart, have been vocal about their thoughts on how to improve NASCAR’s Next Gen cars, suggesting specific changes that could enhance performance across different track types. Their insights, shared publicly, propose alterations that could have a lasting impact on the sport’s future.
Cliff Daniels, crew chief for Kyle Larson, initiated the conversation with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he highlighted differences in aerodynamic behavior between the current Next Gen cars and older or Xfinity models. His key observation was that, in past NASCAR vehicles, a trailing car could affect the leading car by manipulating the airflow, which allowed for strategic racing dynamics. However, with the Next Gen cars, this effect has diminished, reducing the trailing car’s ability to influence the air around the lead car. Daniels explained:
“In the older cars and the current Xfinity series, the trailing car could influence the aerodynamics by pushing air onto the lead car, causing a nose-down, back-up dynamic. With the Next Gen cars, that ability is lost. The trailing car can no longer manipulate the air to move the leading car’s bumper. This makes the racing feel different and less interactive.”
Daniels suggested that NASCAR should focus on reintroducing some of these aerodynamic features to the Next Gen cars. He acknowledged that while factors like tires and horsepower are also part of the equation, restoring some of the aerodynamic interactions between cars could lead to more competitive and engaging races. He proposed:
“We can work on this to allow the trailing car to ‘move that guy.’ Yes, tires and horsepower play a role, but we’ve lost that dynamic in the Next Gen cars. Bringing it back could enhance the racing experience.”
Following Daniels’ post, Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, chimed in with his perspective. He expanded on Daniels’ ideas, pointing out specific elements of the Next Gen car that he believes are holding the racing back, particularly at certain tracks like Bristol. Gabehart focused on the large diffuser and medium-sized spoiler used in the Next Gen cars, suggesting that these components are ill-suited for short-track racing. He expressed his surprise that these issues hadn’t been more widely discussed and emphasized the need for change. Gabehart stated:
“One thing that hasn’t been mentioned much is the big diffuser and medium-sized spoiler that the cars had at Bristol. These elements might make sense for legacy reasons, but they’re not right for this type of racing. We need to get rid of them to improve short-track performance.”
Gabehart’s comments align with the broader discussion on how NASCAR’s Next Gen cars are performing across various track types. While the cars were designed to promote parity across the field, some believe that this has come at the expense of strategic racing elements that made NASCAR exciting in the past. Gabehart’s call to eliminate the diffuser and modify the spoiler reflects a desire to return to a more dynamic style of racing, especially on short tracks where handling and close-quarter battles are essential.
Daniels and Gabehart’s discussion also touched on the balance between chaos and quality in racing. While some fans may enjoy the unpredictability of chaotic races, particularly when softer tires or unusual track conditions come into play, Daniels argued that chaos does not necessarily equate to good racing. During an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR, he explained that the recent race at Bristol, while less chaotic than others, represented a purer form of racing. Daniels elaborated:
“There were multiple lanes—high, low, and middle—during the race. To me, that’s a sign of a good race, where drivers have options and can use their skills to compete. Just because a race is chaotic doesn’t mean it’s good. In fact, I believe we should aim for races that showcase the drivers’ and teams’ abilities, not just create chaos for the sake of entertainment.”
Daniels also shared his concern that NASCAR and Goodyear, in their efforts to make races more entertaining, might unintentionally undermine the purpose of the Next Gen cars. He pointed out that one of the primary goals of the Next Gen car design was to create parity among teams, ensuring that no single driver or team could dominate through sheer engineering advantage. However, in striving for parity, NASCAR may have overcorrected, leading to a situation where creating disparity with tire selections and other adjustments is now seen as necessary to keep the races exciting.
“NASCAR and Goodyear are likely going to keep experimenting with different tires and setups to create more variance in the field. But we need to remember that the whole point of the Next Gen cars was to level the playing field. Now, it feels like we’re trying to add disparity just to make things more entertaining. We have to be careful about how we approach this balance,” Daniels cautioned.
The dialogue between Daniels and Gabehart highlights the complexities of NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to improve the Next Gen cars while maintaining the sport’s core appeal. Both crew chiefs are advocating for changes that would bring back some of the old racing dynamics, particularly regarding aerodynamics, without sacrificing the benefits of the current car designs. Their input is valuable as NASCAR continues to refine its Next Gen platform in response to both driver feedback and fan expectations.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see whether NASCAR adopts any of the recommendations put forward by Daniels and Gabehart. Their suggestions reflect a broader conversation happening within the sport about how to balance tradition with innovation, ensuring that NASCAR remains both competitive and entertaining for years to come.
