It’s no secret that the Next-Gen car has come under plenty of scrutiny. From poor handling to a disappointing short-track package, the vehicles have taken on plenty of criticism over the years with no real solution in sight. While racing has never been better on intermediate tracks, it feels like the sport is steering away from its roots, especially at venues that are less than a mile in length. Given the circumstances, the NASCAR community is more polarized than ever before, especially when it comes to their view of Generation 7 cars.

However, instead of fixing the existing problems, it seems like the sport’s hierarchy is already setting its sights on the future. NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell’s views haven’t gone down well with fans, many of whom have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction.

Has NASCAR run out of options?

The expectations were at an all-time high when the Next-Gen car was introduced in 2022. Why would they not be? Ever since the sport began in 1949, technical innovation has been a consistent feature in NASCAR. Generation 7 vehicles came with plenty of promise, as the factory-built cars promised close racing, improving the entertainment value for fans. However, few would have predicted that it would come at the expense of short-track racing, largely considered the lifeblood of the sport.

Three years have gone by, with no real solution in sight. Disheartened fans have accepted that the short-track package will continue to suffer for the foreseeable future, while NASCAR remains perplexed after exhausting all their options. However, when the sport’s Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell was asked if the Generation-8 car was already in the pipeline, the motorsports executive went on to say, “We’re working on everything.”

The statement appears to be a strange one, given the circumstances. With the Next-Gen car leaving much to be desired, wouldn’t NASCAR’s resources be better spent on improving their current vehicle, instead of building a new one? What are the guarantees that the mistakes made in the Next-Gen cars won’t be repeated in Generation-8? Will a new car solve existing problems, or simply create new ones? There are more questions than answers after O’Donnell’s claim, bringing about plenty of uncertainty for the future.

Sharing his thoughts on the Next-Gen cars, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “I do not see short-track racing surviving this if they don’t find some solution.” However, the biggest question is, what might be the ‘solution’ to the ongoing problems? Denny Hamlin has already ruled out the concept of a Next-Gen 2.0, claiming on the Actions Detrimental podcast that teams cannot afford to buy new parts and pieces for a complete overhaul.

In the 2024 Cup Series campaign, NASCAR did try to experiment with their tire package for short tracks. For the playoff race in Martinsville, Goodyear introduced a new, softer than ever, left-side tire compound in its effort to fine-tune its tire combinations on short tracks. The result? Well, the race was not drab by any means and certainly one of the more interesting Martinsville races over the last few years, with Ryan Blaney winning it in the end. The race saw six different drivers lead for 30+ laps, which was a breath of fresh air in terms of short-track racing. The previous short track race (Bristol Motor Speedway) saw Larson lead 462 out of the 500 laps in a comfortable win. With NASCAR having already tried softer tire compounds as a temporary fix, is a new Generation-8 vehicle the only viable way out?

Fans express apprehension after Next-Gen failure

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It’s fair to say that NASCAR needs to earn back its fans’ trust. The sanctioning body has not been receptive to their supporters’ feedback over the years, making the fandom feel unheard and disrespected. Naturally, the decision to work on a Generation-8 car wasn’t met with much enthusiasm, simply because the failures of the Next-Gen vehicle haven’t been addressed yet. On that note, an X user didn’t hold back when saying, “Working on everything”… except making a half decent stock car 😭😭.”

Even if NASCAR does choose to build an entirely new car, it will take years before the vehicle can finally hit the track. Will the existing problems prevalent in the Next-Gen cars be resolved until then? Questioning the sanctioning body’s priorities, one fan wrote, “There working on the things that are not important. They need to focus on fixing problems that we have, not making new ones.” Echoing that sentiment, another fan expressed hope that the organization may have learned from its mistakes by saying, “Welp, after this Gen 7 car, y’all got a great basis for what not to have in a car.”

The existing car wasn’t the only aspect that was criticized in 2024. Plenty of questions were raised about the win-and-in postseason structure as well, with the likes of Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell failing to make it to Championship 4 despite nine wins between them. Commenting on O’Donnell’s claim, a fan said, “Other than the playoff format apparently”. Urging NASCAR to improve the power in its vehicles for more exciting races, a fan went on to write, “Let’s just get HP on the next engine package. Idc how.” Will the sanctioning body listen to its fans this time around? Time will tell.