Denny Hamlin responds to controversial Kyle Petty NASCAR Next Gen comments

There is a difference of opinion in the NASCAR world as it relates to the Next Gen car. Look no further than Denny Hamlin and Kyle Petty. The two couldn’t disagree more on this car and the racing product on the track.

Kyle Petty argues that the Next Gen car took the Cup Series from an antiquated design, with carburetors and other parts, to a more modern design and system. But modern doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Denny Hamlin was asked about those comments from Petty this week when he spoke to he media at Richmond Raceway. If you listen to Actions Detrimental, you will likely already know what Hamlin thinks.

“I mean, he’s right in that sense [that we don’t drive stock cars]. Certainly, it’s not a stock car,” Hamlin said. “I definitely heard him talk about you know, ‘We used to just bring a car off the street and turn it into a racecar.’ Obviously, those days have been gone for decades now. Yeah, so, he’s definitely, partially right. The difference is that, you know, to address kind of the, we’ve had exciting moments in this car, and I don’t disagree with that. The issue is that it happened early in the Next Gen era where there was so much disparity between the fast cars and slower cars. Now, everyone, over time, since there’s been no development for years and years now and nothing’s really changed, the field has just tightened up. You can see it from the fastest to the slowest.

“The first time here [at Richmond] in the Next Gen was, on average lap time, seven-tenths, somewhere in that range. And last time we came here it was three-and-a-half [tenths]. The field is just now running the same speed, and at a track where you have to have at least two-and-a-half to three tenths of speed to overtake the car in front of you, that means that the first-place fastest car is going to struggle to pass the 25th if he just gets put behind him.”

For the last few years, Denny Hamlin has talked about improvements to the Next Gen. Will we ever see those happen?

Denny Hamlin wants cars more like Xfinity Series

In practice at Richmond, the Cup Series was thrown for a loop. These softer tires were REALLY soft. Teams are concerned they might not have enough tires. However, NASCAR has not issued more sets ahead of tonight’s race.

Tires are one thing Denny Hamlin has talked about for years now. If NASCAR won’t change the horsepower or downforce, then softer tires can make the racing more interesting.

“So, that’s the fundamental part that is going to be tough for us to kind of overcome,” Hamlin continued. Unless, you know, we have some major changes or with the tire, we’re working on that. Goodyear is working on that. We’re coming here with a more aggressive tire. You’ve gotta applaud that, that they’re willing to do it. And that came from trying it last year. But beyond that, we’ve gotta fix the attitude.

“I’ve said it a million times on my podcast. Getting rid of the underbody downforce and putting it on the overbody so you have the ability, like you do in the Xfinity Series, to drive up behind someone and get them off the bottom. That’s when running the same speed will be okay, because you can at least get close to the car in front of you to get them, to manipulate them, and slow them down. Where, right now, the leader has the 100% advantage over the second-place car. Xfinity, it’s a little bit more even, more 50/50.”

So, what is next for the Next Gen? NASCAR has plans to increase horsepower. That increase wouldn’t happen until 2026. Denny Hamlin clearly would like a change to the downforce and aero on this car. But that feels forever away a this point.