The Coke Zero Sugar 400 multi-car crash at Daytona was far more than what met the eyes. With more than a dozen cars impacted by the crash, several drivers suffered some serious injuries. More crash testing and putting the new Next Gen cars in actual race situations is a suggestion that most NASCAR drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch swear by.

On several occasions, NASCAR racing drivers have expressed their concerns on the safety of the next gen cars. In an interview, when Denny Hamlin was asked how his back was, he said; “The best way I can describe it is like I got beat up at a bar and somebody was kicking me in the ribs while I was on the ground.” 

However, NASCAR stated that the speeds and angles of the crash were the main reason for the injuries. The governing body defended the Next Gen cars and assured that they were safe for the drivers.

What Denny Hamlin feels about NASCAR’s explanation

With his entire right side feeling smashed, Denny Hamlin explained what exactly happened. He said; “It was one when I hit the wall for sure, that initial hit to the wall and then somebody came and hit me on the left side. That was another pretty heavy spike as well. I’m not really sure which one did the most damage.”

When the interviewer pointed out that if something like this happened earlier, the race team could easily make adjustments, Hamlin replied; “It’s all in the hands of NASCAR.”

Saying that it’s up to the governing body to ensure the safety of the drivers with whatever products they hand them, Hamlin continued; “We didn’t design the Next Gen car. We left it in their hands to design it. And they framed it out to these companies to build.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals One Aspect of Next Gen Cars that Makes it Difficult to Drive

Explaining that in the old days, it was possible to make changes in the race shops based on the feedback, Hamlin said that now they just have to wait and see what NASCAR hands them. Hamlin also said that the Next Gen cars can do better and at present, the softest part of the car, which is the driver, is taking the brunt. 

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick’s take on the Next Gen cars

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In an interview, Kyle Busch was asked about his opinions on the safety of Next Gen cars. Busch claimed that he wouldn’t have felt the same impact after a similar crash in the old cars.

Further, he dismissed NASCAR’s contention of ‘different speeds and different angles.’ Busch said; “I got up the wall and then was brushing it basically. And then I hit the car in front of me and then got hit by another car. I felt it way more than I would have in the old car.” 

Kyle Busch also explained how he arrived at the conclusion of his not feeling in the old car. He said; “You can see that because the (old) car crinkled or crushes a little bit and people are like; ‘Oh! He can continue on, it’s not that bad.’ In a Gen6 crash, I would have been done for the day.”

Just like Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick also disagreed with NASCAR’s take on the recent hard hits. In an interview, he said that the crash data does not represent what the drivers feel in the car. He continued; “They say, ‘Whoah! It’s only a 15G hit, but I am telling you those 15G hits feel like 50 compared to what they have been in the old cars.” 

Talking about the multiple cars that collided in Daytona, Harvick stated; “I can’t even explain (to) you how violent that is and then to have to feel more pile on into you.”

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As soon as an interviewer asked Harvick for his opinion on NASCAR’s contention, he shook his head. He said; “They don’t feel the same. I mean they are just blood, violent wrecks every time you hit something.”

“They do not feel like they did in the old cars. It’s like we have taken the soft walls down. Every time we hit a car. It feels like we have hit a concrete wall.”