When racing buffs hit the track, they’re there for the thrill of the chase and the roar of the engines. But it looks like NASCAR’s slowly shifting gears towards electric rides, already sneaking in some new technology into their latest models. Last year, they gave these next-gen speedsters a rotation with some fancy noise dampeners at the L.A. showdown, all in a bid to hush things down a bit. This year, the organization’s body is rolling out even snazzier mufflers that not only keep the peace but also make the most of the car’s inner temperature.

Could mufflers become a staple in NASCAR’s future races?

As we gear up for the 2024 circuit, NASCAR’s tinkering with the machinery under the hood, playing around with the transaxle to offer a mix of gear shifts meant to keep cars cruising smoothly on the shorter tracks without the need for constant gear juggling. They’re also toying with the idea of adding mufflers into the mix, aiming to draw away some of that stifling heat from the drivers’ cockpit. Remember that sweltering day in 2023 at Martinsville, where William Byron nearly keeled over from the heat inside his car? Well, that’s the kind of scenario they’re hoping to avoid.

Given the thumbs up the mufflers received last season, slipping into the scene without much fuss, NASCAR’s brass is mulling over making them a regular feature on the track. “And then any other things that we’ve learned along the way. And then (Wednesday), we’ll be running mufflers, so making sure (when) we go to L.A., we’re not going to have anything unexpected,” Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, the big brain behind NASCAR’s vehicle performance, shared with the press.

But when Joe Gibbs Racing threw a spotlight on these mufflers on Instagram, hinting at a quieter race in the L.A. Coliseum without dialing down the excitement too much, with a voiceover, “We have mufflers on our race cars again. They’ll help with noise for our race at the L.A. Coliseum. With only a slight noise reduction, the cars will still be plenty loud. This year the muffler will be in front of the driver instead of behind the driver like it was last year”.

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“The new location will help with heat inside the car. These mufflers help make it possible to race in urban areas,” the reaction from the stands was mixed. Fans are voicing their concerns, uneasy about the changes creeping into their favorite sport.

NASCAR’s move toward making mufflers a mainstay isn’t exactly making fans jump for joy

Even though mufflers didn’t dampen the spirits at the LA Coliseum last year, fan feedback was lukewarm at best. This time around, the push for mufflers is rubbing fans the wrong way.

One spectator couldn’t hide their dismay, bluntly asking, “Whose asking for this c*ap?“ Another hinted at a future where NASCAR might switch to electric cars, saying, “Wait till they go too electric.”

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A straightforward fan didn’t mince words, expressing, “Don’t like. Cars should be as loud as possible. Taking away from the racing experience and watering it down even more. Typical nascar. Take away power now take away sound. Wussies”

Someone else chimed in with a chuckle, “It’s funny the mufflers didn’t even do anything being at the clash in 23 it sounded the same as 22.”  And with a touch of sarcasm, a fan quipped, “It’s California, guess they are worried about air pollution 🤨.”