NASCAR’s Next-Gen car has sort of been the double-edged sword for the organization so far. While the new generation race cars offer a considerable amount of safety compared to the previous Gen 6 cars, passing has become a tough nut to crack for drivers. This is especially the case on short tracks, with veterans of the sport like Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin demanding more horsepower out of the race cars. Sadly, while the organization is out looking to improve the Gen 7 cars, they are far from giving more power to these machines. Naturally, this has ruffled some feathers in the sport.

Instead of giving the cars more horsepower, NASCAR is focusing more on aero packages, attempting to tweak splitters to regulate the downforce. This has enraged Stewart-Haas Racing‘s engine tuner to come out swinging, deeming that the sanctioning body is simply wasting its drivers’ time instead of helping them with what they need.

SHR tuner sides with Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin, openly slamming NASCAR 

To be fair here, NASCAR’s innovative Next-Gen platform was indeed a step towards the greater good. The Daytona wreck of Ryan Preece‘s #41 car is a perfect example to prove this point. Even after flipping 10 odd times, the driver was able to climb out of the wreckage with only minor injuries, highlighting the new generation race car’s safety.

However, performance has taken a back seat amidst the organization’s innovation. Since the cars have become more similar to each other, overtaking has become an issue. Unlike before, drivers are finding it hard to pass each other on short tracks owing to the reduced power figures.

From the earlier 750 hp on normal tracks and 550 hp on superspeedways, the new cars are de-tuned to produce 670 hp on normal tracks and 510 hp on restrictor plate tracks. Subsequently, drivers like Hamlin have been voicing their demands, offering a perfect solution to NASCAR to solve its short-track problem.

Till now, it looked like the organization was turning a blind eye to this very demand. This was, however, made evident by Robert Brandt, the engine tuner for SHR’s #4 car. Taking his concerns to ‘X’, he wrote, “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.” 

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Christopher Bell joins the bandwagon, wanting a bump in horsepower 

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Fresh off to the test after a successful title triumph in Phoenix is Team Penske‘s Ryan Blaney. The 2023 Cup Series champion is a part of the six-driver team that was called upon by NASCAR to partake in the initiative. Each manufacturer will have two drivers with Blaney and Chris Buescher for Ford, Erik Jones and Christopher Bell for Toyota, and Kyle Larson, and Corey LaJoie for Team Chevy.

Much like Hamlin and Junior’s HP claim, Christopher Bell also expects the sanctioning body to hear the driver’s plea and look into the matter more seriously instead of putting more emphasis on other things. He said, “I do know what I’d love to get out of there is about 300 more horsepower but we’ll see if that happens… Horsepower for sure, that’s my opinion and I’m sure if you ask a lot of the other drivers, they’re gonna say the same thing.” 

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It is very plain and simple what Bell would like to have in his car for 2024. But the question remains, will NASCAR heed the call?