NASCAR Fans Raise Voice as Next-Gen Car Hits New Low

The Next Gen car, rolled out in 2022, was supposed to be NASCAR’s big leap forward, safer, cheaper, and built for parity. But three years in, it’s catching flak, especially on short tracks where fans and drivers crave the raw, slide-happy racing of old. Wider tires and beefier brakes make the cars grip like glue, but that stability’s a double-edged sword.

Drivers aren’t wrestling their machines through corners like they used to, and the lack of sliding has sucked some of the thrill out of the show. Fans miss the days when car control was a spectacle, and the Next Gen’s predictable handling isn’t winning many hearts.

Safety was the big selling point, and NASCAR made strides there. Early crashes raised red flags about driver injuries, especially from rear-end hits. So, they tweaked the rear structure, adding a bigger crumple zone to soak up impact energy and cut the risk of concussions or worse. Those changes have helped, but they haven’t silenced the bigger gripe: the cars just don’t feel fast enough.

At Iowa Speedway in 2025, ARCA Menards Series cars outran the Cup Series in qualifying, with Brent Crews’ pole lap of 22.901 seconds beating Chase Briscoe’s 23.004. That kind of gap has fans and insiders buzzing about what’s gone wrong with NASCAR’s premier series.

The heart of the issue is horsepower, or the lack of it. The Next Gen’s 670-horsepower engine package feels tame compared to the 900-horsepower beasts of the Gen-6 era. Drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick have been vocal, saying the cars are too easy to drive, robbing races of their edge.

The data backs it up. Cup cars led nearly every lap at Martinsville and Bristol in 2025, but it’s less about driver skill and more about a car that’s too planted to challenge.NASCAR’s heard the noise but isn’t rushing to fix it.

Talks about boosting horsepower or tweaking the car’s design, narrower tires, and more aero, are swirling, but nothing’s set before 2026. The focus on cost control and parity has owners hesitant to shake things up, leaving fans frustrated that the premier series isn’t living up to its billing.

Reddit’s been a warzone of fan takes, with some calling the Next Gen a letdown and others begging for a return to high-horsepower chaos. The sentiment’s clear. NASCAR’s top series should feel like the pinnacle, not a watered-down version of ARCA or Trucks.

Fans sound off on Reddit

Reddit’s been buzzing with frustration, and one user nailed it, “Top ARCA cars running faster than Cup cars isn’t talked about enough.” At Iowa, ARCA’s Brent Crews outran Cup pole-sitter Chase Briscoe by nearly a second, a stat that had Kevin Harvick fuming, “The Cup cars need to go way faster, especially at the short tracks.”

That kind of gap at a premier series race is a gut punch for fans who expect Cup cars to be the fastest on the block. Another fan went off, “We need to beat it until it’s dead. It’s unacceptable to have the lower series running faster, harder, louder, and more out of control than the top, premier series. Cup cars should be absolute animals to drive.”

The Next Gen’s 670 horsepower is a far cry from the Gen-6’s 900, and drivers like Hamlin have griped that the cars feel too tame. Fans agree, arguing the heavier, standardized setup kills the aggressive handling that made Cup racing a thrill ride.

Short-track woes got called out, too, “The Cup cars at short tracks really lack downforce. Hence why ARCA and trucks are faster at a lot of these tracks with less HP.” At Martinsville, Hamlin led 274 of 275 laps; at Bristol, Kyle Larson led 411 of 500.

The Next Gen’s wide tires and aero package make it stick, but ARCA and Truck cars, with smaller spoilers, dance through traffic better. Fans see it as a design flaw that’s dulled the racing.

The frustration peaked with, “The car is slow, races like crap, and is too easy to drive. Time for NASCAR to double down and make it even worse.” Harvick’s blunt “The car sucks” sums up the vibe. Drivers aren’t challenged, and races feel predictable.

Fans want the chaos of old, where skill separated the field, not just setup. One user sighed, “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like NASCAR or owners want more HP, so without a big redesign, I don’t see this changing anytime soon.” With owners prioritizing costs and NASCAR eyeing 2026 for changes, the Next Gen’s low point is fueling a fan rebellion.