Well, NASCAR has quite the problem on its hands.
With two playoff quality drivers on the shelf with concussions, drivers are calling out the safety of the new Next Gen cars that hit the track for the first time this season.
After a wreck last week, Alex Bowman will miss today’s playoff race at Talladega with concussion-like symptoms. He joins Kurt Busch who hasn’t raced at all since July.
Throw in Kevin Harvick’s car bursting into flames and Martin Truex Jr.’s car falling apart in Texas, and it’s clear that the Next Gen car has more than its fair share of issues.
And here’s the thing… the drivers said this at the beginning of the season.
In light of the Bowman crash, Harvick recalled Denny Hamlin telling NASCAR that the new car was too stiff prior to the start of the season.
“Completely unacceptable that those in charge have let things get to this point. I remember it like it was yesterday, Denny Hamlin in the presentation of the new car to the drivers pleading that the car was to stiff. Data didn’t agree.
TIME TO LISTEN TO THE DRIVERS CRASHING THEM!”
Completely unacceptable that those in charge have let things get to this point. I remember it like it was yesterday @dennyhamlin in the presentation of the new car to the drivers pleading that the car was to stiff. Data didn’t agree. TIME TO LISTEN TO THE DRIVERS CRASHING THEM! https://t.co/Q9urnlbaWa
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) September 30, 2022
He also pointed out that NASCAR drivers have had no say in the process.
As you hear Andy Petree say in this interview when he talks about the industry “I don’t know about the drivers” is very telling as to who has all the say in these processes. NASCAR and the teams. #pickupthepace https://t.co/AQCb1DG8Mr
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) September 30, 2022
Denny Hamlin chimed in as well:
“Pretty disappointing that our sanctioning body refuses to acknowledge or accept any responsibility for drivers getting hurt.
It’s the same THEY said. WE knew better. It’s wrong these drivers continue to get taken advantage of by the system.”
Pretty disappointing that our sanctioning body refuses to acknowledge or accept any responsibility for drivers getting hurt. It’s the same THEY said. WE knew better. It’s wrong these drivers continue to get taken advantage of by the system.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 30, 2022
And then earlier this week, Chase Elliott made a spot-on point about driver safety moving backwards, despite technology being better than ever:
With the experience and knowledge gained since 1948 and the technology we have in 2022… we should never take steps backwards in any area with a new design.
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) September 26, 2022
And then, while talking to press ahead of Talladega, Denny called the problem a result of “bad leadership,” and said the answer was new leadership:
“New leadership… start at the top and work your way down.”
#NASCAR … Denny Hamlin is asked how the sport is in this spot with the new car:
“Bad leadership” pic.twitter.com/gokP6TDZ34
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 1, 2022
So what’s the answer? For Denny, it’s a total redesign:
“The car needs to be redesigned. It needs a full redesign. It can still be called Next Gen, but it needs to be redesigned.
It needs to be redesigned everywhere. Front, middle, rear, competition, the whole thing needs to be redesigned. We’ve got a tough Martinsville race coming up. It’s going to be tough.
This thing is just going to get exposed about how bad it races. That’s just a part of it. Competition and safety, we’d like to have it all better, but certainly we just took a step back in safety and competition this year.
If I were to run this and say, ‘All right, we’re going to have a new car,’ we’d already be done with testing right now for next year’s car. We haven’t even begun. We’re just way too behind. This whole sport is behind.”
He added that the young guys need to speak up as well. When guys like him and Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. are gone, who is going to advocate for the drivers?
“I know a lot of young guys are just happy to be here, but they ain’t going to be happy when their brains are scrambled for the rest of their lives.”
#NASCAR … Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick have been outspoken about the car. Says Hamlin: “I know a lot of young guys are just happy to be here, but they ain’t going to be happy when their brains are scrambled for the rest of their lives.” pic.twitter.com/vIuwIlkeod
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 1, 2022
Yikes…
Sounds like this will be an issue for the foreseeable feature as there are currently no plans to redesign the car.
Kyle Larson says that right now, he doesn't feel as safe in a Cup car as he does in a sprint car.
Calls it "odd" – Especially since sprint car safety has been scrutinized in the past to the point NASCAR car owners tried to keep their drivers from driving them. pic.twitter.com/z0lGznX6s9
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 1, 2022
