The NASCAR 2023 schedule so far has seen a lot of experimentation. Starting with the introduction of the more modern 7th Next Gen racecars, it is offering better handling and improved safety dynamics. With the field driving almost identical Gen-7 cars, passing has now become a near-impossible task for drivers, especially on short tracks like Richmond. But Christopher Bell believes there’s no noticeable difference.

With so many drivers raising this issue, the organization had to come up with a new solution. A new low-downforce package that, according to NASCAR, will be a game changer In addition to this, the concept of having different sets of tires is also in the works.

While the organization is doing everything in its power to make the short-track package all the more thrilling for fans, its efforts seem to miss the mark. Or at least that’s what Joe Gibbs Racing‘s star driver is saying. Though the 28-year-old has good hopes of NASCAR seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with their efforts, following his Richmond race, the driver has addressed the elephant in the room.

Will NASCAR’s new low-downforce package be a boon or a curse?

Understandably, for traditionalists and old-school fans, NASCAR has long forgotten its roots and is trying to lure in more viewers. The Next-Gen cars are robust and are miles ahead in terms of safety dynamics, with the drivers safely cocooned inside. A perfect example of this is HMS Speedster driver Kyle Larson‘s horrific wreck at Talladega this year. The #5 was spun off the track, waiting to be t-boned by the unsuspecting #41 car of Ryan Preece. Though the crash left debris all over the place and a huge chunk missing from the #5 Chevy, Larson was safe and secure.

However, with the cars being more similar to each other, overtaking has now become a hard nut to crack for drivers with cars inches from each other who are still unable to pass. And that leaves NASCAR with no option other than to test a new low-downforce aero package.

With the organization adapting more updates, starting with a shorter 2-inch rear spoiler instead of the 4-inch wing and removing diffuser strakes and engine panel stakes, these Next-Gen cars will have 30% lower downforce, giving the edge back to the drivers.

But let us not get ahead of ourselves. After Sunday’s race at the 075 short track, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell made some striking comments when asked about the difference. Christopher Bell said, “No, it was not a home run so I was a big proponent of the low downforce package in Phoenix in January, and to me, that felt like a big difference and this did not feel like a big difference, I didn’t really notice much difference.”

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While the 28-year-old acknowledges NASCAR’s efforts are going in the right direction, the JGR driver doesn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “I didn’t notice it.”

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Fox journalist and NASCAR enthusiast Bob Pockrass was the one who shot Bell with the question, asking him about the new aero package. While the driver has been struggling for a second win this season, finishing 20th at Richmond, he was also asked about the new tire setups.

“Alright, so maybe hopefully maybe a different spoiler for tomorrow in addition to testing tires, is that possible?” Asked Pockrass, to which Bell simply replied, “I’ve no idea, I know that they have 2 different or I guess 2 or 3 different tires that we’re gonna go through but I dont know where we stand on their package.” Though the reporter tried reformulating the question a bit, trying to know what the driver had in mind, the young driver concluded his take by giving his honest take. 

“No, sorry, I applaud NASCAR for trying, it’s cool but I didn’t notice it,” he said. With the community voicing their opinions, NASCAR really needs to take the matter into serious consideration. A few weeks earlier, the #20 driver’s teammate and NASCAR veteran, Denny Hamlin, also gave his take on the matter, citing the real problem.

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