Kyle Larson claims NASCAR race cars are ‘way too loud’ and asks to make them quieter

Kyle Larson’s biggest takeaway from the Phoenix testing was the race cars' sound.

Kyle Larson claims NASCAR race cars are ‘way too loud’ and asks to make them quieter

Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels (Via IMAGO)

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson had a unique takeaway from the Phoenix post-season testing. The Hendrick Motorsports driver felt that the current generation of NASCAR cars are too loud and they need to be made quieter. His claim was the byproduct of new mufflers that were tested at the track.

The short track test at the season finale track saw teams working on mufflers and trying different configurations to fix the heat issue as well as reducing the sound. The No:5 Chevy driver wasn’t impressed by how it changed the heat issue, as he wasn’t able to see any big difference, but was surprised by how the sound was changed.

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Though the drop in sound isn’t enough for his liking, Larson sees it as the right way forward. He wants NASCAR to come up with some more projects to reduce the sound, as it is too loud at the moment. He argued the that reduction would help fans to have a better race experience.

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I haven’t felt, really, a heat difference. I could definitely tell a sound difference, which I like. I definitely think our race cars are way too loud – and probably are still too loud with the mufflers. … I think the cars could be quieter to help the fan experience.
Larson said, as reported by NASCAR.com.

Kyle Larson’s arguments are justifiable

Larson was one of the six drivers tested the day along with the current champion Ryan Blaney. While none of the other drivers made such comments some arguments can be made in support of Larson. Noise and noise pollution is a big issue that needs to be addressed, and finding the right balance in them important for the future.

Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)
Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

The short track races are where the sound is an issue, as the cars are running closer and there is limited space to race in the area. So, everyone at the track kind of experiences discomfort due to the loud noise of the cars. When it comes to Road Courses or Superspeedway it’s no issue as the track is spread and the loud noise wary depending on where the cars are at the track.

So having a different set of mufflers that could both reduce the sound and solve heat issues at the short track will be a win-win situation. But what scares some fans is the potential of the same sound deduction coming to tracks that will reduce the race experience as sound is a big factor for many fans who enjoy racing.

It’s also no longer viable for NASCAR to have noisy races, as with the urbanization of most of the areas around NASCAR tracks reduction of the sound will be an important factor in making the residents happy. It might also help to attract some more fans who are not exploring the sport due to too much noise. But NASCAR should be wise in their decision-making as too much deduction will anger legacy fans.

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