Denny Hamlin Declares ‘Next-Gen Car Hate’ Has Reached Car of Tomorrow Levels

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin didn’t hold back on how bad the dislike of the NASCAR Next-Gen car has reached at the moment.

Denny Hamlin Declares ‘Next-Gen Car Hate’ Has Reached Car of Tomorrow Levels

Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

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Since its introduction, the Next-Gen car has been a major topic of discussion in the community for all the wrong reason. While it achieved the goals of modernizing the car and make racing closer, the overall race product has been bad. JGR veteran Denny Hamlin has now explained how bad the drama over the car has become.

The 23XI Racing co-owner has been a major critic of the car owing to its overtaking issues and aerodynamic characteristics, that has been reason behind underwhelming races on short tracks. But NASCAR has refused to address the fundamental issues, opting to instead try minor upgrades to fox the issue, which has often failed.

According to Denny Hamlin, the hate the car is receiving at the moment has reached a point similar to the Car of Tomorrow. COT was the most controversial and hated car change NASCAR ever introduced with the dop in horsepower and new design making races disappointing for everyone involved. The veteran believes the drivers and fans now hate the 7th Gen car on the same level.

I think that we have a fundamental car problem. It is no doubt a problem. Everyone that has ever driven it has said it’s a problem. I believe that the Next Gen car is reaching hate levels of the COT (Car of Tomorrow) with the wing. From fans — I think they’re starting to dislike this car as much as the drivers that have to drive it.

Denny Hamlin said on Actions Detrimental podcast.

The major demand NASCAR driver has been urging NASCAR to go back on has been the reduction of the horsepower. Almost every new car introduced to the series in witnessing this change. It’s getting worse and worse every season, with the drivers opinions on the topic getting almost no recognition from the sanctioning body.

We’ve just steadily progressed our way back and back and back and back and taken horsepower away more and more and more. These are 10th floor decisions and let’s just say us drivers are on the third floor.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin calls out for making horrible decisions

Further talking about the topic on the same podcast, Hamlin accused NASCAR of making bad business decisions, highlighting how just like any other business the stock car racing series isn’t immune to poor calls from the leadership. He asserted that the horrible choices is going hurt the spot more in the near future.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via @JoeGibbsRacing/X)

No business is immune to bad decisions. I think that the NASCAR business has made some horrible decisions over the last given amount of time and eventually, it catches up.

Denny Hamlin said.

He pointed out that being stubborn about the keeping the sport in the direction they want to at the moment doesn’t give them free pass when it comes to consequences. The veteran also took another dig at the sport leadership, asserting it isn’t the first time they have made such bad choices.

You can’t just say, ‘This is the direction I want to go. Well, why? Well, it’s just the direction I want to go,’ and not eventually have to pay for that. You’re going to have to pay for your bad decision at some point, and this could be said for lots of things that has happened in those offices.

Denny Hamlin added.

While there will be some that might overlook Denny Hamlin’s comments pointing at the veteran’s obvious issues with the sport over the charter lawsuit, a significant group of the community agrees with him. The Next-Gen car needs a significant change and that should start with ana increase in the horsepower.

Also Read: “We Don’t Race Stock Cars!” Kyle Petty SLAMS Dale Earnhardt Jr. Over Undeserved Next-Gen Car Criticism