Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has called for vital updates to the NextGen car, arguing that changes are necessary to safeguard NASCAR’s tradition and competitiveness. The push for Jimmie Johnson NextGen car changes arrives at a moment when other notable figures, including Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and drivers like Chase Elliott, have also raised concerns about the current technical direction of the sport.
Jimmie Johnson Pushes for NextGen Car Improvements
Jimmie Johnson stands out as a voice of experience in this debate, bringing a legacy of 83 victories, which includes multiple Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 wins. Despite his achievements, Johnson acknowledges that the Gen 7 platform, central to the current Cup Series cars, presents unique challenges even for veteran drivers and teams.
On an episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Johnson elaborated on the main issues he identifies with the NextGen car, discussing both his personal experience as a team owner and driver. Johnson described the limits imposed by NASCAR’s system of specifications, which restricts teams to a certain number of chassis and parts. He believes that, while this framework enables new team owners like himself to compete, it also comes with significant drawbacks:
“The way I look at it is a soft cap that we have in the sport. There’s only so many chassis we can have, only so many parts and pieces you can buy. So, it does provide help, and I don’t think I’d be a team owner if we didn’t have this combination, this setup of a spec car. I’d like to see some changes. I think a car that gains side force and yaw is a better car, one that drives better, more interesting, puts on a better show. This car does not do that.”
—Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner and Cup Champion
Johnson made it clear that one of the most important technical concerns involves the tire design. Specifically, he highlighted the need to move away from the current low-profile tires, which limit the drivers’ ability to sense and manage the car’s grip on track. He said:
“The other thing that I’d like to consider is a taller sidewall on the cars. The lower profile sidewall, I think, takes a lot of feel out of it and being able to slide it and understand it,”
—Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner and Cup Champion
Current Drivers Share Frustrations With The NextGen Car
Johnson is not alone in expressing doubts about the platform. He pointed out that his conversations with current stars reinforce the same concerns, highlighting a broad feeling among top drivers that the new car does not respond the way competitors are accustomed to. During a recent discussion with current Cup star Chase Elliott at Richmond, Johnson recounted:
“Even Chase Elliott, I had a conversation with him at Richmond, Saturday night, and he’s like, ‘Man, it’s just not like it used to be. You can’t drive the same,”
—Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner and Cup Champion (describing Chase Elliott’s viewpoint)
This sentiment shows just how much the current generation of Cup drivers, including champions like Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Denny Hamlin, are struggling with a platform that does not reward traditional driving skills. According to Johnson, adapting to these new cars has forced even seasoned veterans to re-learn their craft, reducing the ability of drivers to stand out based on talent alone.
NASCAR’s Young Stars Know No Different
While experienced competitors are vocal about the changes they want, Johnson recognizes that newer entrants to NASCAR’s top levels, such as Xfinity Series talent Connor Zilisch, have no comparison point. Many of these rising drivers have grown up only with the NextGen architecture. Johnson explained:
“A lot of these drivers have never experienced anything else, and certainly the next generation that’s coming in, and you watch these guys exploit it and go fast,”
—Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner and Cup Champion
For this incoming group, mastering the NextGen car is all they know, allowing them to adapt naturally to the existing package even as older drivers struggle to find their footing.
Implications for the Future of NASCAR
The urgency highlighted by Jimmie Johnson and echoed by other Cup Series leaders suggests that without significant changes to the NextGen platform, the quality of racing and the essence of competition could be compromised. Johnson’s recommendations, especially around car dynamics and tire specifications, aim to restore balance between technical equality and the unique skills that set great drivers apart. As NASCAR evaluates its path forward, the voices of past and present champions may prove decisive in shaping whether the sport can retain its excitement and tradition for both new fans and longtime followers alike.
