Tyler Reddick is facing significant adjustment challenges with NASCAR’s Next Gen car, which introduced many updates for the 2022 Cup Series. The issue has affected Reddick and other drivers, such as Kyle Busch, as they navigate the evolving demands of the new vehicles, highlighting the complexity of adapting to recent changes in the sport. Tyler Reddick Next Gen car struggles remain central to his current racing narrative, shaping conversations about driver skill and adaptation.
New NASCAR Cup Series Car Alters Competition
The introduction of the Next Gen car brought a suite of changes to the NASCAR Cup Series when it debuted in 2022, with technical upgrades altering competition dynamics. While designed to improve racing, several drivers have encountered difficulties adjusting, while others have seen performance declines. One notable case is Kyle Busch, whose recent results have been among the most challenging of his career. Similarly, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing has publicly identified a core problem he faces with the Next Gen vehicle.
Reddick shared his thoughts on the topic during an appearance on the Stacking Pennies podcast. After an impressive second-place finish at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Reddick finds himself in a favorable playoff position, with hopes to advance to the Round of 12 resting on his next race at Bristol.
Loss of Precision Driving Advantage for Reddick
On the podcast, Reddick explained that the evolution from steel-bodied Gen 6 cars to the composite-bodied Next Gen cars has taken away one of his biggest strengths behind the wheel—his ability to run the high line with pinpoint accuracy, especially at raceways like Homestead and Darlington. According to Reddick, the older cars required more precise handling and heavily penalized mistakes since coming into contact with the wall could end a driver’s race. For a driver like Reddick, who invested in mastering wall proximity, the shift represents a disadvantage.
He said,
Anywhere that you would run the highline, run near the fence, because I felt like, you know, that was something I was really good at. I could run really close to the wall and not hit it.
—Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
The change in car body material means lower penalties for wall contact, diminishing the competitive edge that Reddick’s precision once provided. This adjustment impacts not just individual technique but also the strategic approach to racing, particularly at tracks where the high line is advantageous.
Challenges of Adapting to the New Car at Darlington
Reddick went on to discuss the specific technical aspects that make the Next Gen car more difficult for him at Darlington. He recounted how, with the Gen 6 version, he could gauge the proximity of the car, especially the right rear quarter panel, by awareness and by listening to the exhaust pipes that previously exited on one side. This sensory feedback allowed for close, accurate drives along the wall, a technique that helped him at challenging tracks.
However, in the Next Gen vehicle, the exhaust now exits on both sides, removing his ability to use sound to judge distance effectively. During the final 20 laps of the recent Darlington race, Reddick and fellow driver Kyle Larson frequently brushed the wall with little consequence, as the composite body lessened the negative impact of such mistakes. This removal of risk, in Reddick’s view, undercuts the skill-based advantage he had worked hard to develop in previous cars.
What These Changes Mean for Drivers and the Playoffs
The difficulties Tyler Reddick describes point to a broader trend of NASCAR’s ongoing transformation, reshaping what it takes to compete at the highest levels. As the current playoff round continues, Reddick’s ability to adjust will determine his progression in the series, with Bristol’s upcoming race serving as another critical test. His experience and perspective are increasingly relevant for other competitors facing similar learning curves with the Next Gen model. Going forward, the evolution of car design promises to redefine skill sets and strategies in the NASCAR Cup Series, offering new challenges and opportunities for all drivers involved.
