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IL: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Classic Chicago Street Race Fans watch the NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Street Race in downtown Chicago on June 2, 2023. This is day 2 of the racing series and is a 2.2-mile stretch of track and 100 laps. This is NASCARS 75th anniversary and the first street race contested in the NASCAR Cup Series, and features the Chicago Skyline and Lake Michigan as its backdrop. Chicago IL NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xAlexandraxBuxbaumx Editorial use only
NASCAR must have believed that their two-day testing session in Phoenix got off to a good start when the 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney claimed that the upgrades made the car drive a lot better. However, as videos of the second day of testing emerged, fans were complaining about an unusual aspect of the new upgrades.
The testing session was scheduled by NASCAR in Phoenix to test a new short-track package. Short-track racing came under heavy criticism from fans and experts last season. While many called for an increase in horsepower, the organizers seem to have gone a different way to address the issue. Whether it will bear positive results on race day is the question on everyone’s lips.
NASCAR insider calls Phoenix test session a waste of time
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After the first day of testing, things looked quite positive as tires and aerodynamics were on the agenda. The second day was reserved for testing the mufflers and the transaxle. It seems like the muffler is what has caused a lot of disappointment among fans. A video emerged on Twitter comparing the sound of the cars on both days of testing.
Due to the new mufflers, the sound of the cars going around the track was a lot less than what NASCAR fans are used to. Of course, it doesn’t really matter if the car runs better but for most fans of motorsports, the sound of an engine holds a special place in their hearts.
Despite Ryan Blaney’s words of praise, not everyone was happy with the direction NASCAR was going. People’s calls for more horsepower had fallen on deaf ears.
For comparison, left is a new muffler and right is from yesterday. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/kDjBkmep9G
— Cole Cusumano (@Cole_Cusumano_) December 6, 2023
Stewart-Haas Racing engine tuner Robert Brandt called it a waste of time. “I am so glad to hear @nascar is completely wasting the teams time and money with the @phoenixraceway test. Still working on an aero package that came from a video game and refusing to run the Higher HP package,” he tweeted.
I am so glad to hear @nascar is completely wasting the teams time and money with the @phoenixraceway test. Still working on a aero package that came from a video game and refusing to run the Higher HP package. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Robert Brandt (@bamaboynnc) December 6, 2023
While fans are also on board with anyone calling for more horsepower, their main concern after the second day of testing was how the cars sounded. NASCAR fans are known to be brutal and they made their opinions clear on Twitter.
Fans slam new short-track package aspect as testing concludes in Phoenix
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Under the Twitter post which showed the videos of how the cars sounded on both days, NASCAR fans expressed their disappointment. The video on the left showed the cars on day 2 of testing and the one on the right showed cars on day 1.
“Right is better,” one fan wrote.
“Left is terrible,” quipped another.
One user said that the car sounded like it was missing a whole cylinder while another user expressed the need for more horsepower and loud noises.
“The one on the left sounds like it’s down a cylinder,” wrote one user.
“Why can’t we just have 950HP and loud noises,” commented another.
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It’s true that if a car runs well, the sound should not matter. But for hardcore fans, the sound an engine makes is like music. This time around, they did not like the tune that was playing.
“the cars just sound so sad now,” one user wrote.
“I’m not a fan of the higher pitched sound of the new car. It’s fine on tv, but very ear piercing at the track,” commented another.
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How do you think the new short-track package by NASCAR will perform on a race day? Will there be an improvement or will it be more of the same? Let us know your thoughts.