NASCAR recently unveiled significant safety updates for the Next Gen car following a harrowing crash involving Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece at Talladega Superspeedway. The updates, announced on June 8, are set to be implemented before the night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, Kyle Busch, a prominent NASCAR driver, has exposed the sport’s oversight and raised concerns regarding the safety advancements made.

In a recent press conference at Sonoma, Busch shared his thoughts on the changes, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to safety improvements.

Kyle Busch Exposes NASCAR Telling Where They Are Falling Short on Promises

During a recent Sonoma press conference, a reporter questioned Kyle Busch about his thoughts on NASCAR’s safety updates and any lingering concerns regarding rear impacts in light of Noah Gragson’s absence due to concussion-like symptoms. Busch expressed sympathy for Gragson’s situation and acknowledged the importance of safety advancements to withstand significant impacts.

However, Busch raised concerns about the continuous addition of weight and material to the Next Gen car. He highlighted the substantial increase in car weight from the previous generation, questioning the limit and level of heaviness that may compromise performance and safety.

The driver went on to mention that some areas of the car lacked sufficient crush zones and were excessively stiff. He noted that these stiff areas, coupled with the added weight, contributed to the failure of certain bars during the crash. Busch criticized NASCAR for not addressing these concerns and opting to reinforce the car with stiffeners, further increasing its weight and rigidity.

At the Sonoma press conference, he stated, “[I was] just talking to some of the engineers… like there are a few areas of the car that are really really really stiff and don’t have sort of crush zone like the old car used to. And that’s why those bars [on Larson’s car] broke.”

“But we didn’t look at any of that, we didn’t cut any stuff out to soften up the frame rail… all we did was add stiffeners to make it even heavier and stiffer.”

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Kyle Larson Expresses Gratitude After Talladega Crash

The urgency for safety improvements became apparent after the terrifying crash between Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece. Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, escaped without injury despite the significant damage inflicted upon his car. The collision occurred when Ross Chastain challenged Ryan Blaney for the lead, causing Noah Gragson to lose control and initiate a multi-car accident. As Larson attempted to regain control, Ryan Preece collided with the right-side door of his car.

After the incident, Kyle Larson expressed gratitude for emerging from the wreck unharmed. However, he expressed frustration over the outcome, as he had been in a promising position during the race.

He added, “Thankfully, I’m okay. My car is absolutely destroyed. The cockpit is a mess. Just thankful that I’m alright and all that, but just a bummer. We put ourselves in position once again on a superspeedway, and the end results don’t show it. Another wreck not of my doing on a superspeedway. Just hate it, but we’ll keep getting better and eventually, it’ll have to work out.”

Larson lamented his misfortune in superspeedway races, where accidents that are not of his making seem to occur frequently. Despite the setbacks, Larson remains optimistic, believing that continued improvement will eventually yield positive results.

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