The NASCAR Cup Series’ Gen7 car is still in its infancy, but especially when it comes to safety, there shouldn’t really be any doubts
Lots of punctures and bent suspension parts: The next-gen car has shown its weaknesses in the 2022 NASCAR season. The series bosses and also tyre supplier Goodyear have already reacted and made adjustments that go in the right direction. However, the issue of safety is on NASCAR boss Jim France’s table, as Kurt Busch’s crash at Pocono and the fire on Kevin Harvick’s car caused a stir.
“I’m concerned,” Penske driver Joey Logano said. “Everybody is concerned and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be. “When we see what’s happened to our competitors, as well as ourselves already, we have to make the comparison to the old car and there are some worry lines that come up.” Logano is specifically alluding to 23XI driver Kurt Busch’s accident in Pocono qualifying. The veteran will miss the playoffs due to a concussion.
“Kurt’s situation and also what was said after the accidents at Daytona makes us take a closer look,” Logano continued. “I had my experiences at Charlotte and at the Michigan test. That’s the reality that you can’t hide. I’m putting a lot more time into this now than I did with the old car, so there’s got to be a reason for that. “
Revolution with teething problems?
NASCAR has dared an absolute revolution with the next-gen car and broken with many traditions. The car is flatter, wider, shorter at the rear and stiffer. On the outside, there is now independent rear suspension, a sequential gearbox, a central nut for the tyres and a diffuser at the rear. The shortened rear end in particular seems to cause problems in case of impacts with the boot in front.
However, there are also opposing voices in the NASCAR series paddock. Chase Briscoe was involved in accidents on the superspeedways at Talladega and Daytona and therefore cannot agree with Logano’s statements. “I had two tough accidents and both turned out better than I thought they would. Especially at Talladega, I thought it was going to be bad, but I feel good. “
Importantly, Logano addresses small details, clarifying, “I’m not saying the car isn’t safe. But it’s not as safe as the old car in some areas, but safer in other areas.” Especially in rollovers, the new car would do well, as the wild flights are already nipped in the bud by the design of the car. “It feels much better,” he says. “However, the everyday crashes are a bit harder than they were before. “
Fire another problem besides crashes
But that’s not the only issue: at the first playoff race of the 2022 season at Darlington, Kevin Harvick’s Ford Mustang suddenly caught fire. The successor to Dale Earnhardt Sr, who was killed in the Daytona 500 in 2001, was able to exit the car safely but had found himself in smoke and flames when the fire broke out.
The NASCAR veteran blames “junky parts” on the next-gen car for the incident. He also takes a shot at NASCAR, saying the series “doesn’t care” about it. Scott Miller counters to ‘SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’. The vice president of competition says: “Nobody wants something like this to happen. It’s an emotional time, but to say NASCAR doesn’t care is about as far from the truth as you can get.”
Miller explained that Ford, in particular, had a problem with the heat generated by the exhaust, which would cause less trouble for Chevrolet and Toyota. Nevertheless, NASCAR reacted immediately and put adjustments in place for the race at Kansas Speedway. Foam coatings on the underside and right impact guard of the car were banned and parts on the car were modified.
Harvick expects action instead of words
Nevertheless, Harvick is extremely miffed: “Safety shouldn’t have anything to do with money. I watched when we had all those situations with Adam [Petty] and Kenny Irwin that led to the death of Dale Earnhardt [at Daytona]. And then all of a sudden it was mandatory to wear the HANS,” Harvick said Saturday at Kansas Speedway.
“We developed the soft barriers with the safer-barriers,” the Stewart-Haas driver continued. “Safety can’t take time. This car is messed up in terms of the way it behaves in accidents. No matter what the data says, every driver in the paddock confirms it and says it hurts. The feet, the hands, the head, everything hurts. There have to be better solutions. “
Harvick accuses NASCAR of being “too slow to react”. “Also, teams are always concerned about the budget, but that has nothing to do with the drivers,” he rumbles. NASCAR, on the other hand, knows there are problems. The first fire occurred after accidental damage, as something ignited because of a damaged valve cover. So far, that has affected Chris Buescher and Logano. In Harvick’s case, there seems to have been a different reason.
Harvick brings suggestions
The latter suggests having car safety evaluated independently of NASCAR in the future. “When it comes to safety, NASCAR and the teams would then have no influence,” Harvick’s proposal said. Officials are already in dialogue with drivers to improve safety. Denny Hamlin, Busch, Logano, Corey LaJoie and Austin Dillon have already been consulted for suggestions.
Harvick clarifies, “We can’t be that slow to react.” According to the Stewart-Haas driver, it is in fact only the rear of the car that is causing problems, but also the front and the flanks. “It’s all doing away,” he says. “We’re in an exceptional situation because the car doesn’t behave properly in accidents.” Harvick himself does not have a solution ready, he says, but wishes the engineers would do their job.
In terms of competition and racing, the new NASCAR Series car has been a resounding success. So far, including All-Star races, 19 different drivers have scored a victory in the 2022 season. If Busch hadn’t had to sit on the bench because of the accident, all the places in the playoffs would have been awarded via victories for the first time in history. As soon as the last teething problems have been solved, the next-gen car should be a lot of fun for drivers and fans alike.
