Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, expressed strong criticism of NASCAR’s Next Gen car after the Bristol race. He acknowledged that while the event showcased the best race possible under current conditions, there are significant shortcomings in the Next Gen era, particularly concerning the goal of parity.
Gabehart argued that while NASCAR aimed to level the playing field by making parts accessible to all teams, in reality, physics and the car’s design continue to favor the leading teams. He emphasized that the revisions have made the cars “too easy” to drive, allowing top teams, like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, to maintain dominance despite the intention of more balanced competition. He feels that, although the idea of parity is admirable, the execution fails because once a car gains the lead, it has an inherent advantage that is difficult to overcome【6†source】【7†source】.
His comments underline the growing frustration within the industry that the Next Gen car hasn’t achieved the competitive balance it promised, and more adjustments may be needed to address the limitations seen, especially on short tracks like Bristol.