Christopher Bell Leads Reactions from the NASCAR Community on Controversial Addition of Mufflers

Earlier, NASCAR conducted a pre-season test at the Phoenix Raceway. Over there, the stock car series was trialing exhaust mufflers. Teams will use them in street races like Chicago and even at the LA Coliseum. The primary idea is to make the cars a little quieter, especially to avoid annoying the locals too much. Even people from the NASCAR community, like Mark Martin and Christopher Bell, have reacted to the situation.

According to reports, the mufflers should theoretically reduce the engine volume by six to 10 decibels. Honestly speaking, the move makes sense because the enclosed nature of the circuits could amplify the cars’ exhaust sounds. At this stage, ear protection can only do so much to save a person’s hearing. Of course, the NASCAR higher-ups know that sound is a key element of the spectator experience. In light of this, Vice President of Vehicle Performance Dr. Eric Jacuzzi insisted that the sound won’t be too badly affected.

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How did the NASCAR community react to the new feature?

Surprisingly, many were rather civil about it and admitted that having a slightly lowered volume was not their cup of tea. Others were simply aghast and wondering why NASCAR explored this route. Few of the fans even insisted that mufflers were not necessarily needed in the sport. Some of them insisted that hearing the cars roar by was part and parcel of the experience of watching a live NASCAR race.

Some snarky fans suggested that taking away the sound will only drive the fans away from watching. A few people admitted that this was a terrible decision, and they understood that it was better for the drivers. However, the fans simply love the raw loud sounds emanating from the stock cars. Bell told Bob Pockrass, “It was hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. It was a great back-to-back from yesterday with no mufflers to today with mufflers. Just in the garage area, just sitting there through changes. It was super hot today, and yesterday it was nothing. Even after, at the end of the test, we took the mufflers off. I was not even sweating. I felt really good.”

Of course, NASCAR is going ahead with this plan, whether the fans like it or not. This is why they are testing it out at the Phoenix Raceway before the mufflers see their debuts later this year. Aside from these tests, the drivers are also preparing hard for the upcoming season that starts in just over a week’s time.

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