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The never-ending concern around the safety of NASCAR drivers in the Next Gen vehicles has been a recurring topic. At least this is what Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick thinks.

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With the growing concern around dangerous multi-car wrecks like the one which took place in Daytona last weekend, NASCAR’s Next Gen cars are being questioned and doubts have been raised by drivers about these vehicles.

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In a recent interview, Harvick spoke about how NASCAR hasn’t made the required changes it’s supposed to, to reduce the impact of such incidents. He also added about how his fellow drivers are being affected by such hits on them.

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Harvick stated, “I think from my previous experiences, you know, I’ve had some things that I’ve presented that were three years into having no response to. So from a driver’s standpoint, the things that I think the drivers would consider most important may not rank as high on that priority list on those people.”

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“Everybody’s not out there banging into stuff themselves. So I think when you see Denny talked about being banged up, Kurt out, you hear the hits week after week and you know everybody’s talking about making some changes but haven’t really seen any,” he added.

ALSO READ: NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Exposes the “Biggest Hurdle” Kevin Harvick is Facing With a Dig at Drivers Like Chase Elliott & Ross Chastain

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After hearing this, one of the reporters added by saying, “Joey Logano said it costs a lot of money.” The #4 driver replied, “Well, that tells you where we rank, money is more important than the safety of a car. So that’s the perception that seems to be coming with it.”

With this concern, Harvick really thinks the topmost priority should be the safety of the drivers and not the money factor.

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How are Next Gen cars different?

Next Gen cars or Gen-7 cars started rolling in February 2022. Their prime focus was cost cutting for the racing teams and the manufacturers, and also strengthening the driver’s safety.

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USA Today via Reuters

With cost-cutting, NASCAR’s focus was to draw more car manufacturers into the mix with Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford, as the sponsorship revenues reduced for the teams after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Kevin Harvick breaks Hendrick Motorsports’ legend Jeff Gordon’s record in Sonoma

But many drivers feel that they still lack the requirements needed by the drivers. Let us know what you think of the Next Gen car in the comments below.

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Sashwat Deo

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Sashwat Deo is a NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports. Having completed his undergrad in Mass Communication, he has set out to leave his mark in the field of journalism. Since he is an avid sports fan, it didn't take long for Sashwat to fall in love with the fast-paced and competitive world of motorsports. With NASCAR being one of his favorite leagues in the racing scene, he is a big supporter of Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports. When he is not cheering for 'Yung Money', he not only likes to travel but also enjoys writing blogs. Other than being an author, he is also a musician who is into all sorts of different music genres, and likes to play the piano in his leisure time.

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Ankit Sharma

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