Tyler Reddick was disappointed with the tactics that drivers resorted to while competing at Watkins Glen last weekend. His frustration stemmed from the blatant use of bumpers and leaning on other race car drivers to advance up in the field. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. highlighted this growing issue that could prove detrimental to the sport. “I’m only concerned about is that we’ve seen a lack of respect.”

But what exactly has fueled the rise of this excessive beating and banging? Just like most of the issues with NASCAR racing, it all trickles down to the new Next Gen car. While most of the drivers were quick to call out this abrasive style of racing, Joey Logano shared why drivers feel no regret in shoving their opponents while competing on the racetracks.

Joey Logano highlights a major flaw with the Next Gen car

The idea of parity racing was to bring the field together so that they could compete and provide a level playing field for all. But, this all saw a massive shift in the design and the body of the race cars. The steel panels and bumper were replaced with carbon fiber; this allowed the cars to take significant hits and bumps upon collision.

While, in theory, this sounds like an enhancement in the safety feature of the car. But the drivers soon flipped it and started using it as a means of aggression on the racetrack. Shedding light on this new developing trend, Joey Logano said, “The car accepts so much contact. like leaning on each other is something that is just part of the game. And when you’re going down into Turn 1 and you have cars that are tougher now. The bumpers are stronger than they were.”

He used the analogy of go-karts with big bumpers to help the racing community understand what racing with the Next Gen car feels like. “Now the bumpers are bulldozers, right? When you go to your local little go-kart track and they got the big bumpers all the way around it, what ends up happening? You guys clobber each other, we have cars like that now; we have cars that are just tough,” he added.

One would like to ask why to risk it all and just send it when the position on the track can be gained with skill or racecraft. As Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned, it does lead to rivalry and entertainment, but it can also lead to detrimental outcomes if not kept in check. Austin Dillon’s case was just an example of drivers crossing the fine line between racing hard and taking opponents out of commission.

Drivers are only trying to work with what they have

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One of the big complaints about the Next Gen car is the lack of passing opportunities on the short ovals and road courses. On the drafting and superspeedways, you have a new trend of fuel saving. NASCAR has been hesitant on the request for an increase in horsepower, which has fallen on deaf ears. So, all drivers are doing is playing by the rules that they haven’t set in the first place.

“Good, bad, or any different, it’s up to everyone else to decide, but the cars accept it, and so the drivers take it. You’re gonna take what’s there, and when it comes down to those heavy breaking zones, the late race restarts when you’re barreling down the turn 1 three four wide, everyone’s leaning on each other. It’s just what it is these days.” Logano explained.

What are your thoughts on this debate, and does NASCAR need to tweak or alter the Next-Gen race, allowing drivers to take control of their races?