NASCAR Next Gen car has a bug in the steering

Martin Truex Jr compliments the new chassis; Details a bug in the steering on ovals

NASCAR is set to roll out a new car for 2022. This week, the car is being tested by Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr on the ROVAL and the oval of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This marks the first test with the new car since the pandemic began. Originally, the car was set to debut in 2021 but it was pushed back.

The car will be a spec chassis. All teams will use the same chassis, regardless of manufacture. It’s a drastic move to save the times lots of money.

As for changes, the new car features dual exhaust. It’s sounds much different than the current spec car.

The engine has been tuned down slightly. That’s because the bigger tires, independent rear suspension and better handling have significantly lower lap times. The engine is dialed back to bring the speeds back into caparison with the current spec.

Outside of the positive, there’s a bit of a bug they’re working out with the steering on the machine. Martin Truex Jr details the bug and compliments everything else about the new car.

Martin Truex Jr on the NASCAR Next Gen car

“The tires are bigger, it’s got more gears in the transmission, it’s sequential and it’s got really big brakes. It does everything, a little bit better,” Martin Truex Jr stated.

“It’s a little bit easier to drive, in general, around the road course.”

“We’re having a few issues with the steering on the big track. If the car bottoms out, at all, the steering kinda goes haywire. So, we’re working through that. But, otherwise, it all feels good.”

“With less horsepower, we’re actually faster or as fast as we were with the current car.”

“I haven’t had any issues. I know a lot of the guys, that’s been a major complaint, the steering being soft, twitchy and all those things. Honestly, I feel pretty comfortable with it so far.”

Truex concluded, “Again, the only issue is when the car bottoms out on the oval, the steering gets really stiff. It almost feels like something’s locking up. We’re trying to figure that out. I know they had some similar issues at Dover.”

Related: NASCAR Next Gen car opens the door for much softer tires

NASCAR Next Gen testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Garage photo
CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 16: Team members make adjustments to the NASCAR Next Gen car during the NASCAR Cup Series test at Charlotte Motor Speedway on November 16, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Kurt Busch on twitchy steering

“We’re doing fine right now,” Kurt Busch stated during Monday’s test.

“They still have one more change to make things firmer. To have the sensitivity turned down, a little bit. But, we’re at a road course for the first time and I like it’s movement, back and fourth, left to right. But, on the oval sections it’s a little bit on edge. That’s where we need to prefect that.”

“Road course stuff, we’re in the box. Oval, we’ll know more on Wednesday.”

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Martin Truex Jr | Kurt Busch | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR

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