Vice President at Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon is of the belief that NASCAR Next Gen is for the better. Based on what he’s seen three races into the season at Daytona Beach, Fontana, and Las Vegas.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon recently spoke about his outlook following the three races so far. Gordon credited the new Next Gen car for adding more parity to the grid in NASCAR since it’s inception.
“I think we’ve seen great racing. I think we’ve seen cars coming from the back to the front, front to the back,” Gordon said. “We’ve seen where they can race hard. But the cars are on the edge. The drivers are definitely having to show their talent and ability.
Gordon admitted he is “proud” of NASCAR progress with the configuration of low downforce and high horsepower because it leaves racing “more in the drivers’ hands.”
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“You see guys spinning out by themselves, and we haven’t seen that in years. You see guys catching it, but yet you can tell they’re still pushing and driving hard. I’m incredibly impressed and optimistic about what this car has to bring throughout the season, as these guys continue to work on it.’
“I think that was the intent of the Next Gen car,” said Gordon, an executive at HMS. “The idea was to have a car on a more level playing field. I’m proud of NASCAR going with the lower downforce/higher horsepower package for these types of tracks. That (package) puts it more in the drivers’ hands.
Three races into the season NASCAR fans and drivers are not happy about the Next-Gen tire issues which are costing teams crucial victories or point finishes.
The 50-y-o California native added that it’s “great” to see drivers leading and seeing more of the front who had otherwise struggled to do so in the previous car.
“We saw it with Tyler Reddick last week (and) Erik Jones. This week Ross Chastain was incredibly impressive,” he said.
“I think that’s what the sport needs to continue to grow.”