Why did Tyler Reddick call NASCAR’s new Next-Gen short-track package ‘exponentially worse’?

Tyler Reddick didn’t mince his words about the new Next-Gen short track package.

Why did Tyler Reddick call NASCAR’s new Next-Gen short-track package ‘exponentially worse’?

Bubba Wallace and Tyler ReddicK (Via IMAGO)

Since the introduction of the Next-Gen cars in 2022, one of the major issues has been the traffic in the short tracks, which is the root of the sport Over the years NASCAR has introduced some changes to the car to fix the issue but nothing has worked out and recently the biggest changes of them all was introduced to the sport.

After multiple texts, the driver got the first chance to use it on race week, this Friday during the first practice session of the Phoenix Cup race. Unfortunately, it hasn’t fixed the issue, instead has made it worse according to Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing. He highlighted that traffic has now become a bigger issue with the update.

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I don’t know if that’s some of our handling issues, but yeah, just every time I feel like we made a positive change, we’d get in traffic and it’d just be gone again. Pretty interesting to say the least, I think this package was supposed to help traffic but it feels exponentially worse. Very interesting trying to feel out your car, feel out what’s happening there out in traffic as well. I’m sure we got a lot to talk about and figure out in a short amount of time.
Reddick told Fox Sports.

NASCAR was hoping to hit the homerun with the update as the Next-Gen cars have produced impressive racing in both Intermediates and Superspeedways. The sanctioning body has to take the opinions of the drivers into account and make the package better for the upcoming races of the 2024 season.

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What were the major rule changes introduced with the new Next-Gen package?

The changes made to the car were basically done to the aero-package. This includes a simplified rear diffuser, a new three-inch spoiler, and the elimination of the engine panel. But all this culminated in no major gains.

NASCAR at Atlanta Speedway
NASCAR at Atlanta Speedway (Credits: USA Today)

2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott even pointed out that it felt nothing more than the same old car he has been driving in the last two seasons. Many other drivers have agreed with the HMS Star and have given similar verdicts on the car.

I forgot they did anything until they started talking about it afterwards. I don’t see it really changing a whole lot. I could be totally wrong, but I don’t think it’s going to change much.

Elliott said.

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