Kurt Busch to Test the NASCAR Next Gen Car at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

All through 2020, NASCAR has conducted various tests for the Next Gen car. Now, that is set to continue in 2021, with the first test kicking off on on Tuesday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver who has the honor of being behind the wheel is NASCAR veteran, Kurt Busch.

His primary objective is to test some component adjustments of the Next Gen car. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has already driven the car before, though the objectives were different at that time.

The last time the Next Gen car took to the track in December, Chris Buescher was at the wheel at Daytona. However, he was strictly limited to the speedway layout. Meanwhile, Busch and Martin Truex Jr. tested on the speedway and road course layouts.

Kurt Busch is preparing for the new season

“I think some of the stuff we found in the car is very promising for some of the other tracks we’re going to take it to,” NASCAR Vice President John Probst said. “So if anything, we may try to get on a local track up in the Charlotte area for a couple hours to verify what we found here translates to some other track types.”

There have been many tests conducted in order to work out any and all potential kinks. From there, the officials can work on the feedback they receive from the drivers, if any. Kurt Busch is not the first and definitely won’t be the last to step in the car to test it. Obviously, the sport wants to ensure that the Next Gen car is fully ready by the time the 2022 season rolls by, and they need as many tests as possible to do that.

For now, Kurt Busch and his fellow drivers will have one eye on the 2021 season. The new season kicks off in February with the Daytona 500. The 2004 Cup Series champion may be a veteran and in his early 40s, but he has proven time and time again that he still has it in him to win races.