Joey Logano, the outspoken NASCAR Cup Series champion, has openly criticized elements of the Next Gen car era, highlighting his concerns regarding increasing competitiveness among teams. This “Joey Logano Next Gen criticism” arrives as the playoffs intensify, with top organizations like Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports vying for victory in Las Vegas.
Logano Challenges the Current NASCAR Landscape
Logano, well known for expressing his views without reservation, remains a significant figure in the series, not only for his playoff performances but also for his candid opinions on the sport’s evolution. While he continues to support the current postseason format, Logano is not shy about questioning NASCAR’s leaps toward innovation, especially the Gen-7 car initiative. When approached on the topic ahead of the pivotal Round of 8, Logano shared his perspective on how these changes have affected racing dynamics.
Champion Praises Parity, But Raises Concerns
During a discussion with the host of “Rubbin is Racing,” Logano acknowledged that NASCAR’s recent changes have indeed allowed smaller, less-funded teams to be more competitive. He said,
There’s more parity than ever, is what I’m saying. Like when they went to the Next-Gen car, I mean, that’s brought everybody a lot closer together. All you gotta do is stats to see the parity. There used to be drivers that would win nine races a year and have 20-something top five finishes.
— Joey Logano, Driver
However, Logano made it clear that the same parity has led to new challenges for drivers accustomed to outperforming the field by a significant margin. He stated,
The Next-Gen era, especially as we’ve all been racing the same car now for a few years,
— Joey Logano, Driver
He went on, highlighting the increased difficulty drivers now face:
The fuel just keeps getting tighter and tighter… It’s harder to get a top-five finish. It’s harder to win a race because you can’t.
— Joey Logano, Driver
These remarks found support among veteran drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who have also demanded quick adjustments to the series. Logano explained,
We used to have enough speed in our car that we can go out there and make a mistake and still drive through the field and get back into the top five, no problem. Now you make a mistake and you put us back in 20th, you’re probably going to finish 20th, maybe 15th, right?
— Joey Logano, Driver
Veterans Voice Similar Issues
The effects of the Next Gen cars have become a point of debate among purists and veterans. Many drivers, including Hamlin, have noted the increased difficulty with passing and expressed frustration about what they perceive as underwhelming car performance compared to previous generations. The new regulations have resulted in more identical vehicles, and the altered dynamics have prompted some, like Hamlin, to say the cars behave more like “motorboats” than their traditional racecar counterparts.
Looking Ahead: Is There Hope for Greater Competition?
Despite his worries, Logano offered a glimpse of optimism regarding the evolving race environment. He concluded with,
The best racing is when cars have different speeds. And the tire fall-off lately has been helping that piece a lot.
— Joey Logano, Driver
As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs progress and debates over the Next Gen revolution persist, the feedback from voices like Logano, Hamlin, and Earnhardt Jr. may influence future adjustments. Whether these calls from drivers and teams will result in rule changes or technical tweaks remains to be seen, but for now, competitive parity and the struggle for an edge define this era’s racing landscape.
