There was a time when NASCAR used to invoke adrenaline by the mere mention of its name. The sounds of the roaring stock cars, the ferociously competitive drivers and the aggressive, often dangerous racing used to excite every NASCAR fan.

But now, many argue that the sport has lost its charm. And by charm, they mean the raw nature of elements that made the racing action what it was. Today it seems NASCAR can even put a child to bed. And it’s not a metaphor.

In a recent video posted by a user on Reddit, an infant child literally went to sleep as a race ‘rambles on’ in the background.

Most of the discourse surrounding modern-day NASCAR is essentially against reforms that make the sport safer. But the critics argue that in doing so, the sport is losing the biggest factor which made it successful among fans, the thrill.

Now, in no way is making the sports safe a criticism, but it’s just one of those situations with which something must be lost for something to be gained.

The racing isn’t as exciting as it used to be simply because the stakes are lower now. But because the stakes are lower, NASCAR has become safer now.

So, it’s a weird paradox.

Criticism of cars in NASCAR

But perhaps the fairest criticism of the sport isn’t down to safety but the cars themselves.

Gone are the days when a race driver and an average fan were driving essentially the same cars. So, that affected the sense of relatability for the viewers for the biggest element of the sport, the cars.

The cars completely shifted from the cars from the sports’ days of thunder. The National Association Of Stock Car Racing had, in many ways, lost the meaning of the term ‘stock car’ in the modern day.

As a result, ratings went down and viewers started looking away.

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Next Gen for the Next Gen

But in the last few years, NASCAR has made some crucial reforms in terms of scheduling and, more recently, the upcoming Next Gen car for 2022.

These efforts are in hopes of making the sport recover from its downward trajectory. While the aggressive scheduling has brought back the ratings, the Next Gen car is aimed at making the on-track action more competitive and thrilling again, a return to the roots.

While NASCAR isn’t dying, as many critics will have you believe, it’s certainly heading into a new era. And with that, it could go either way.

Also Read: Chase Elliott Delivers Eye-Opening Verdict on NASCAR’s Next-Gen Car