“It’s a Bad One” – Denny Hamlin Details the Situation of NASCAR’s Next-Gen Car Amid Ryan Preece and Ryan Blaney’s Shocking Wrecks

In the high-stakes world of NASCAR, every decision has the impact of making or breaking your race. Denny Hamlin, the veteran driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, sheds light on the ever-evolving dynamics of the sport. The backdrop of shocking wrecks involving Ryan Preece and Ryan Blaney at Daytona has prompted Hamlin to discuss the profound impact of NASCAR’s Next-Gen cars, as well as the changing landscape of racing.

The stock car racing witnessed two horrifying crashes in the heart-pounding races at Daytona. Denny Hamlin, in his podcast following the race, shared his insights on the intriguing shifts brought about by the Next-Gen cars. With improved safety measures, these cars deflect impact more effectively, thanks to changes in the front clip that enhance compression to absorb the impact. Yet, Hamlin pointed out that these advancements have reshaped the racing landscape in unforeseen ways.

Denny Hamlin shares how NASCAR’s Next Gen car has shifted the racing dynamics

Hamlin’s assessment brings into focus a significant transformation in NASCAR’s racing dynamics. In the past, the 7th and 8th positions on the track were known to be danger zones for wrecks. However, the Next-Gen cars have rewritten this narrative. Wrecks are now more likely to start at the front of the pack, around the 2nd or 3rd positions. This shift has left drivers with a startling realization. There is no safe place on the grid anymore in case of a crash, except at the very back. Yet, taking that route comes with its own set of challenges.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver highlighted the predicament that arises when positioning oneself at the rear of the pack. While it might protect a driver from piling up with the wrecked cars, it means that you’re sacrificing track position. A driver relegated to the back will have to navigate through the field again. Banking on opportunities to regain a competitive edge. This strategic tug-of-war between safety and track position highlights the challenges with the current NASCAR landscape.

Speaking to Jared on his podcast, Hamlin explained, “I mean Blaney’s taken some massive hits in the wall in the Next Gen. Lucky for us, we’ve got to hear him talk in an interview afterward. So, it’s tough, these things are tough. I mean, his car did deflect more certainly from the changes that NASCAR made with the front clip to make them compress more. That certainly probably helped his impact [than] what the first iteration of Next Gen was. So it’s getting better. But yeah, that’s one of those worst-case scenario type things where you’re driving in a corner and you get sent the other way, it’s a bad one.“

Jared pointed out that the crashes seem to be happening more at the front now. “It’s also one of those wrecks we’ve talked about on the show a handful of times that these wrecks are coming more and more coming from the front of the field. I mean Blaney was leading the race.”

“Yeah, I mean I know for a really long time the worst statistical place to be in the field was 7th to 8th,” said Hamlin. “That typically was the first where the first part of the wreck would get started. And as we’ve gone to this 2×2 type of racing with Next Gen, the number is like 2 and 3. It’s at the front. So there is no place to hide anymore, except for the very back, but if you’re in the very back, you lose track position, and then unless the field clears itself out, you’re not gonna win.“

Amidst the jarring and horrifying crashes suffered by Ryan Blaney and Ryan Preece, Denny Hamlin drew attention to the role of pushing in corners, shedding light on the risks drivers face.

Hamlin believes that pushing into the corners has become a risk not worth taking

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The aftermath of a wreck involving SHR’s Ryan Preece and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney drew attention to the unpredictability of the race. Hamlin pulls no punches as he raises concerns about the reckless pushing of cars. Particularly in the high-speed corners at superspeedways, which proved disastrous in this high-stakes event.

Hamlin pointed out, “Just can’t push in the corner, I mean I think we all should [know] by now, you just cannot push in the corner with these cars, it’s just the track is just too slick especially turn 4 is by far the slickest corner that we have at Daytona. I’m not sure, but turn 4 has always been the trickiest corner that we got on superspeedways. And you just can’t push, you just cannot push as long as you are in a corner.”

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As the NASCAR community grapples with the changing dynamics brought by Next-Gen cars, Denny Hamlin’s insights provide valuable perspectives. The delicate balance between enhanced safety and evolving racing strategies adds a new layer of complexity to the sport. With both drivers and fans adjusting to these transformations. The NASCAR landscape continues to evolve, unveiling the intriguing intersections of innovation and tradition.

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