Next Gen race cars were supposed to be the big driving force to change NASCAR racing for good. However, going by the complaints and criticism by the drivers and the community, it feels like NASCAR’s innovation has been under-delivered. To make matters worse, the race car is now facing a backlash from flipping into the air like a toy. Putting the drivers and the spectators at risk during the races.

For the past few weeks, the race cars have been flipping in the air wildly after the slightest of contact. It started with Corey Lajoie’s wreck at Michigan International Speedway and then was again on display at Daytona. Josh Berry was the driver who found himself on the receiving end of the nasty crash. Even the shark fins couldn’t keep the racecars grounded after the crashes.

So, what exactly needs to change on the race car to avoid or reduce such freak accidents? Well, Joey Logano seemed to have the remedy for this concerning issue.

Joey Logano wants NASCAR to discard the diffuser

Apart from the single source part initiative and notable aerodynamic changes to the new car, perhaps the big change was the addition of a diffuser. This was the first time such a component was added to the underbody of a car, and the primary motive of this diffuser was to create more downforce.

This aids in keeping the car grounded on the track with the entire underbody being sealed. However, it is hard to figure out that this rear diffuser could be the cause of the cars flipping wildly in the air. Joey Logano certainly believes this is the root cause of the current dilemma NASCAR is facing.

Prominent NASCAR reporter, Bob Pockrass, asked Logona about his thoughts on the issue during the press meet ahead of the Southern 500. To which the Penske star replied, “I think one of the best options probably would be to put a splitter back into the thing and took the underbodies off, go back to where we were. I got to think that’s kinda the only thing you can do to fix it. We can’t put weight in the car; that’s not gonna be the answer. So I think the only option is to take that diffuser off.”

He even drew a parallel of the Next-Gen car with the kites and how vulnerable they are in taking off the ground with the packed underbody. “To me, I don’t have an engineering degree. I would say that the floor underneath the car that we have when it catches wind, it’s like a kite, and we’re seeing that happen a lot with this car. Until that comes off, I don’t think there’s a way to keep them on the ground.”

However, there have been contrasting opinions about the same from other influential personalities of the sport. Especially, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin, who feel that such accidents have always been a part of NASCAR racing.

Denny Hamlin would rather flip than take a hit in the Next Gen car

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Although the race car flipping wildly in the air and barrel rolling is a grim sight, the good news is that both LaJoie and Berry came out of the car rather unscathed. Denny Hamlin, sharing his two cents on the burning topic, stated, “As a driver, I haven’t rolled one over, but I almost would rather roll one over than hit a wall head-on at that speed.” A statement that was further backed by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr. explained that a race car ramming the wall at the speed of 150 mph is more threatening than flipping in the air. Now, his father, the great Dale Earnhardt, lost his life in a crash that was thought to be nothing serious. However, it was found out that the impact of the crash was the reason behind his demise.

“As disorienting and unpleasant as getting airborne is…It’s scary to anybody who’s never been in a race car…Heading toward a wall, knowing you are going to hit it at 150 mph is more terrifying and always going to be.” Dale Jr. shared this via the DJD podcast. So there’s not a clear backlash by the driver communities over the concern. But that doesn’t mean that NASCAR shouldn’t take further steps to curb this growing problem.