Last Friday, Chevrolet unveiled a refreshed Camaro ZL1. It will make its competition debut in 2026 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Some of the changes would include a larger hood dome, revisions to the front grille, and redefined rocker panels. The ZL1 debuted in NASCAR in 2018 and changed in 2020, when it was updated to the ZL1 1LE version, and also in 2022 with the Next-Gen car introduction.

However, the Next-Gen car has not experienced the same growth as the Chevy body. Fans and drivers alike have mounted protests and diatribes against the countless faults of the car, with NASCAR mostly turning a deaf ear. But now, the time is ripe for the sanctioning body to change its approach.

Demands ring out in the NASCAR garage

NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell appeared on a Dale Jr Download episode in October. His words about the Next-Gen car sounded like music to many fans and drivers’ ears. “We’re always open to changes,” O’Donnell said. “The one piece I really look at, and I think our group does, we have this car and some things contained from a cost standpoint, but what does everyone really like? The ability to tweak the car and find an advantage to do something cool. What’s the next iteration of that? Now that we have the parts and pieces long term, maybe we look at race teams are making some parts again.”

When the Next-Gen car debuted, it stripped teams’ competitive ability to tweak their cars. Single-spec parts became the norm to raise the parity in the field. The wider tires and larger brakes make the cars more grippy in tight corners. This prevents the car from sliding around turns as much as its predecessors did. Hence, drivers can pass less. It also appears to enhance the dirty air on short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol, although Goodyear’s tires have made a significant improvement this year.

Due to all these challenges, the NASCAR garage is getting impatient with the executive body. Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, highlighted the topic of parity. “The more we’re the same, the harder it is to be different. Everyone at this level is really good at driving these cars…When the track gets rubbered, it becomes really difficult to do something different than the guy ahead of you since he’s in the optimal line.” 

Adam Stevens, crew chief for Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, had the same opinion as Elliott. “Throughout the history of the sport, at least in my time, somebody has a hot hand and someone doesn’t. You can be on the leading edge of the development curve, and everyone catches up and you have to get back to work. It creates comers and goers, and fast cars and slow cars, people on the way up and down, with more areas in which to compete.” Other drivers and crew chiefs also chipped in with similar opinions, highlighting how change is paramount.

Earlier, NASCAR made changes to the cars year after year, except for short intervals. However, in the 4 years of the Gen 7, no significant aero/performance changes actually happened. That was until NASCAR announced the horsepower boost for 2026. The car will jump from the 670 HP used since 2022 to 750 HP for ovals shorter than 1.5 miles and road courses.

This short step has intensified the demand for more subsequent steps. And tests are underway.

Charting a game plan

On November 12th, RFK Racing participated in a test at Bristol Motor Speedway. Interestingly, fans thought that the rear diffuser was missing in this test. This is a Next-Gen part that Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and others have advocated for removal. However, NASCAR mechanic Bozi Tatarevic noted that the diffuser used had already been in place for road courses and short tracks. That marks a change in the right direction nonetheless. And driver Ryan Preece, who was part of the test, dropped some optimistic comments about this endeavor.

RFK Racing posted on X: “Good morning from Bristol, baby 🫡 @RyanPreece_is rolling out the RFK TeK Alliance test car for day one of tire testing.” The No. 60 Ford driver then shared his thoughts about the 500-lap test. “We just got done testing here at Bristol Motor Speedway. I feel like I did 500 laps,” he said. “It was pretty cold. But yeah, all done for Day  1 testing here at Bristol. I feel like finding the right direction. So, excited about it.”

Next, NASCAR will head to North Wilkesboro for further testing. At the iconic 0.635-mile track, it will consider making technical adjustments to the car to enhance racing and increase passing opportunities. Steve O’Donnell said that discussions are open with drivers, OEMs, Crew chiefs, and others to test at North Wilkesboro, and they will “see what happens.”

Hopefully, the turnout will be something positive for the sport. Let’s wait and see what changes await the Next-Gen car in 2026.