When NASCAR embarked on the journey to create the Next Gen car, they had a clear vision in mind. The three objectives were to first restore brand identity to each car. Second, reduce the team’s operating costs. And third, narrow the performance gap between big and small operations. Now, with the Next Gen cars entering their second year, Jeff Gordon believes that at least one of those goals is well on its way to fruition. According to him, big team owners like Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs are facing the risk of losing their dominance in the sport.

Newer and smaller teams like Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, RFK Racing, and Front Row Motorsports are making their presence felt on the racetrack. The Next-Gen car’s design and specifications have allowed these teams to challenge the supremacy of the more established giants like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. It appears that the traditional hierarchy is facing a potential disruption.

Jeff Gordon believes that the Next-Gen car has successfully leveled the playing field in NASCAR

Smaller, two-car teams have emerged as dominant forces on the track, breaking down the walls of tradition. RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher has tasted victory three times this year, while Michael McDowell secured a triumph at the Indianapolis road course. The win in Indianapolis was Front Row Motorsports’ first since 2021, and unlike McDowell’s Daytona 500 victory, it showcased consistent competitiveness from the team.

Michael McDowell himself attributed their success to the Next Gen car, emphasizing its role in enhancing performance on road courses. “This Next-Gen car has really helped us on the road courses,” said McDowell. “I think if you just look at the average finish and you look at [the] average running position. We’ve been a top-5 car every single road course race since the Next Gen car has come in.”

The Next Gen cars are definitely serving to level the playing field, with the number of race wins becoming more evenly distributed among drivers. In stark contrast to previous years, where at least one driver won five or more races each season. No one managed to achieve that feat in 2022. The competition has become more intense. Making it challenging for any driver or team to maintain a significant advantage over the rest.

The Next Gen cars are definitely serving to level the playing field, with the number of race wins becoming more evenly distributed among drivers. In stark contrast to previous years, where at least one driver won five or more races each season, No one managed to achieve that feat in 2022. The competition has become more intense. Making it challenging for any driver or team to maintain a significant advantage over the rest.

One remarkable example of Next Gen cars’ impact is Shane van Gisbergen’s win on his debut in Chicago while driving for Trackhouse Racing, a relatively newer team. Even Denny Hamlin, a seasoned driver at Joe Gibbs Racing, acknowledges that the new car standardizes the “Lego set” for all teams, putting an end to the days of securing victory purely through a faster car.

Jeff Gordon, while sharing his insights on the Mics Are Hot podcast, highlighted the advantages of the Next Gen cars for newer teams. He emphasized the freedom from manufacturing car parts and the focus on engineering and speed. These newer teams have the opportunity to plan strategically and bridge the gap with established racing giants.

“I think the newer teams like Trackhouse, like 23XI, they got to come in and say okay Next-Gen. We don’t have to manufacture all the parts and pieces of our car. We just need to assemble these cars. And we need to have the best engineering and find ways to go fast,” said Gordon.

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“And so they can, you know, plan their building around that. They can plan the number of people that they have around that they can, you know, plan their schedule of how they get people to the track and back around some of those things as well as how they compete. And so I think right now with Next-Gen there are some big advantages. But it’s going to take them a few years to catch up to the established teams that have been at the top. But I think with this car they can do that easily,” he concluded.

Next-Gen car or not, there’s one man who has shown utter dominance for Hendrick Motorsports. And Jeff Gordon has nothing but praise for his driver.

Gordon spoke about what makes Kyle Larson different from every other driver in NASCAR

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Kyle Larson’s record, statistics, and results speak for themselves. But what truly sets him apart from the rest? According to Gordon, it’s about having confidence within the team and elevating the team’s overall performance.

When asked about what sets Kyle Larson apart and what he has brought to Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon said, “Anybody that’s bringing a high level of talent and aggressiveness and speed to match up with people that are building the cars, it’s about having confidence in one another.” Gordon recalls how crew chief Cliff Daniels “lit up” at the prospect of Larson’s arrival.

“He [Cliff Daniels] was excited about that. So there are certain drivers that bring that, not a lot of them. But the ones that do instantly elevate the team. But you gotta follow that up with a work-hard attitude. And he’s doing both of those things, so it’s a good combination,” he concluded.

Gordon acknowledges that Larson’s approach to the Cup Series and his collaboration with Cliff Daniels are pivotal. Larson’s work ethic, combined with the wealth of information and data, has been a key factor in his success. The driver’s willingness to embrace the rigorous demands of the sport and absorb the insights from the team places him in a league of his own.

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NASCAR’s journey with the Next Gen car has set the stage for a new era where smaller teams have a shot at glory. Jeff Gordon’s insights shed light on the changing landscape of the sport, hinting at potential shifts in supremacy. With the Next Gen cars leveling the playing field and drivers like Kyle Larson raising the bar, NASCAR is witnessing a transformation that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.