Bob Pockrass Reveals How NASCAR’s Autocracy Hinders the Internal Growth for Drivers and Teams

In 2022, the racing world witnessed the highly anticipated debut of the next-gen car on the track. This momentous occasion was met with mixed reviews, but one undeniable consensus emerged from the drivers: the new car represented a step backward regarding safety. The glaring truth about its vulnerabilities was repeatedly brought to the forefront, most notably when seasoned drivers Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman were sidelined due to injuries sustained in crashes.

Since then, the racing community has been striving to address these concerns with a series of upgrades, yet the issues remain a work in progress. Amidst this ongoing debate, Bob Pockrass, a well-respected NASCAR reporter, provided insightful commentary on the next-gen car.

Bumps in the road as Bob Pockrass spills the beans on Next-Gen car

In a recent appearance on ‘The Kenny Wallace Show,’ the Fox Sports reporter shared his candid thoughts on the next-gen car. When asked about his opinion, Bob Pockrass opened up, revealing his mixed sentiments on the matter. The American motorsports journalist expressed his appreciation for the increased parity the new car has brought to the sport, which has allowed underdog teams to emerge as contenders. He stated, “I like the fact that Trackhouse and a Kaulig can come in and win some races, and it’s probably because of the parity that the new car brings.”

However, Bob Pockrass didn’t shy away from addressing the safety concerns associated with the next-gen car. He indicated that safety remained a point of contention for him, especially on short tracks. He said, “I’m not a fan of the challenge on the safety side, and currently still on the short trackside.”

The seasoned reporter also touched upon the slower pace of advancements and improvements in the new era of NASCAR, highlighting the lack of nimbleness in making changes. Pockrass emphasized that NASCAR’s control over the manufacturing and design of the car has limited teams’ ability to develop their own parts and pieces, hindering their capacity to improve the vehicle. The 56-year-old explained, “They’re not very nimble in being able to make changes because (a) you only have a single supplier of parts but (b) the teams are not working on stuff.”

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“So, what happens now is NASCAR and the team kind of talk and maybe try to figure out a fix. But in the past, they’d all be trying to think of answers and trying to work on answers because they can figure out, they can make their own parts and pieces to improve it. Obviously, in this new era, they can’t. They’re not going to make a new piece because NASCAR’s in charge of all the manufacturing and all the designs of it. So, I think that’s, to me, the biggest challenge”, he concluded.

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The No. 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing recently echoed the same sentiments, sharing a unique perspective as both a driver and a team owner. During a podcast episode on ‘Actions Detrimental,’ Denny Hamlin engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about improving the quality and cost of developing the Cup series cars. Co-host Jared Allen raised the idea of manufacturers producing specific parts, subject to NASCAR approval, before distribution to teams. Hamlin, after some contemplation, expressed his willingness to explore this idea, given the exorbitant costs associated with the cars.

Hamlin also delved into the issue of parts quality control, “Also, I believe truly that the teams’ quality control will likely be better than any of the other manufacturers. Now, there are some distributors that their quality control is very, very good, and their parts that they distribute to the teams are just really, really, really precise.”

“And there are others that are wildly inconsistent, and it’s a roll of the dice on whether you get a good one or a bad one.” While acknowledging that minor variations in parts wouldn’t significantly affect race outcomes, he highlighted the potential cost savings and affordability of building Next-Gen cars in-house. As the community grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by the car, what are your thoughts on the next-gen?

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