The Next Gen car, unveiled last year, came with an array of innovative features. It was said that driver safety was the primary focus for NASCAR. However, the vehicle soon encountered a series of issues, with driver safety ironically emerging as a major concern. Numerous drivers expressed discomfort, noting the severe impact of hits.

Despite modifications made earlier this year, safety continues to be a prominent issue. Especially after the recent Kyle Larson wreck in Talladega. Therefore, ahead of the high-stakes 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, further upgrades were introduced. Yet, questions linger about their effectiveness.

During a recent press conference, the reigning Cup champion Joey Logano shared his views on these updates, providing an insider’s perspective on the evolving situation. Furthermore, he dropped a bold revelation surrounding the recent changes.

Joey Logano gives his take on the updates to the Next Gen car

During the pre-race press conference, Logano stated, “I don’t think any of us are satisfied until we see that it’s better, and I think that’s kind of the situation we’re in. We’ve seen how we got to this spot that we’re in now as far as safety with developing the Next Gen car, and it’s frustrating.

“That was frustrating, but I feel like now there’s some pretty clear data on where we’re at, and at least we can understand that, and there are steps being made to move forward and make it better. So, when you think about the rear clips, OK, that seems to be better.”

The 2022 Cup champion added, “There’s been a few rear impacts and everyone seems like they’re doing OK. It stinks that it got to the point where it’s hurt a few drivers last year, and then you see Larson and Preece’s wreck in Talladega and you’re like, ‘OK, the front is too stiff, too.’ We can’t forget about that, so then next steps are made for that.”

“The frustrating part is that we had to wait until some big wrecks happened to make changes. That was the frustrating part, but changes are being made now and that’s good,” he concluded.

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As the dust settles on Logano’s comments, it’s clear that the development and refinement of the Next Gen car continue to be a challenging endeavor. His words remind us of the complexities inherent in the sport, both in terms of safety and competitiveness.

Logano does not think it is “easier” to “go and unload” with this Next Gen car

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A journalist subsequently queried Logano about the ease of operation, specifically the “go and unload” process, with the Next Gen car compared to other models. However, Logano’s response indicated a less than favorable impression of this Next Gen vehicle.

The Team Penske driver responded, “No, I don’t think it’s any easier. If anything, it’s harder because we understand the old car probably even better than we still understand this car, but it’s the same for everybody. Nobody had any laps. It’s all going off the setups that the engineers and crew chiefs and drivers have come up with.”

Furthermore, he added, “You’re looking at the sim, other races at that track or other tracks like it, and the best decisions you can make. That’s what you’ve got and we’ll see what we’ve got tomorrow. It’s kind of exciting in some ways. It’s like, ‘How good did we do?’ So, I’m kind of excited about that part.”

In a world where knowledge is power, understanding the new Next Gen car represents a new frontier for drivers, engineers, and crew chiefs alike. Logano’s candor about the challenge this presents speaks volumes.

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