Complaints about the NASCAR Cup Series aero package have grown louder through 2025, especially at intermediate and short tracks. Drivers and fans alike criticize how tightly controlled aero balance and drag reduction keep cars glued together in uniform bubbles, making passes difficult and turning races into fuel-saving chess matches rather than pure speed racing.

Many have acknowledged that the current Next Gen car, despite its modern styling, is not producing the level of spirited competition fans expect. But someone in the NASCAR community seems to have cracked the code, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s head has been turned. In a recent complaint-filled environment, Dale Jr. is sounding off on this person’s solution in four simple words.

Mark Martin and Dale Jr. weigh in on the aero rules fix

The Cup Series currently runs a Next Gen aero package designed to reduce costs, standardize parts, and balance performance among manufacturers. It relies heavily on downforce from simplified splitters and diffusers and less on mechanical grip. On intermediate tracks, the car struggles to pass cleanly due to the intense aerodynamic wake, forcing drivers to draft or save fuel rather than race wheel-to-wheel. At short tracks, NASCAR conducted tests during two separate weeks in 2025, using simplified diffusers and narrower spoilers to encourage more aggressive racing. But, results have been inconsistent, with some cars still dominated by single-file control.

Social media erupted when someone noted that 1980s ARCA cars, simple steel-bodied racers with carburetted V-8s, would qualify at higher speeds than today’s Cup machines and similar configurations and often produced more exciting racing. At Daytona, qualifying speed in 2022, the first year of NASCAR’s Next Gen car, saw ARCA cars top the charts at 183 mph, just ahead of the Cup Cars’ 181 mph. But once the green flag dropped, the Cup field pulled away, averaging 142 mph in the race compared to ARCA’s 126 mph. Over at Phoenix, ARCA again edged Cup in qualifying, clocking 133 mph to Cup’s 132 mph, though Cup once more dominated race pace with an average of 100 mph versus ARCA’s 86 mph. That remark caught more attention when Mark Martin responded, tactically endorsing the sentiment. That nod validated the idea that aero dependency may have gone too far, diluting what made stock car racing compelling.

Soon after, a fan chimed in with a deep analysis, ranking the packages through different series wisely, and that is what caught Dale Jr.’s ultimate approval: “Working on aero behavior of all the different series, it is beyond clear which rules package would create the best racing. #1 (hands down) – Arca #2 – Xfinity #3 – Trucks #4 – Cup short track package #5 (by a country mile) – Cup intermediate package.”

Dale Jr. didn’t hesitate for even a minute when he responded with, ” If I owned a top motorsports series in North America, I’d hire this guy immediately.“ Those four words implied more than praise.

If someone truly understands the link between aero design and racing quality, they should be shaping the rulebook, not watching from the sidelines. And if NASCAR continues to ignore this kind of analysis, instead of embracing ARCA-style aero freedom, mechanical grip, and driver skill over downforce-heavy setups, it will take dramatic rule changes to fix. A better racing formula would feature beefier horsepower without reliance on downforce, softer tires that degrade naturally, open suspension setups, and greater tolerance for team-specific adjustments.

Essentially, it means reverting the Cup Series towards a more driver-centric model that rewards passing ability and adaptability, not just pack positioning. Implemented thoughtfully, it could reinvigorate short track racing and deliver the kind of show fans signed up for in the first place. However, in a recent ARCA race at Iowa, things took a turn for the worse.

ARCA team owner reveals the scary cause of the highway accident

Club Racing Inc. faced an unexpected blow after Friday’s ARCA Menards Series race at Iowa Speedway. While hauling the team’s No. 03 Ford back from Newton, Iowa, the hauler was involved in a crash on Interstate 80. Impact caused the trailer to tip onto its side, scattering equipment and leaving the hauler damaged.

The team posted on social media early Saturday, saying, “Really bad night coming home along I-80 in Illinois. Thankfully, everyone involved is ok. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of our equipment for the #03 is destroyed.” Team owner and driver Alex Clubb later revealed to Frontstretch that a close friend was behind the wheel of the truck and had fallen asleep, sparking the terrifying accident.

For a small ARCA outfit like Clubb Racing, the loss is monumental. The team’s gear was heavily damaged, jeopardizing preparations for the next ARCA Menards Series event at Watkins Glen on August 8. Clubb had guided the No. 03 to our 20th-place finish at Iowa, while Colby Evans placed 23rd in his series debut. Despite the setback, Clubb still sits sixth in the ARCA Menards Series standings after 12 races this season.