The NASCAR Next Gen car has created a totally new era
A month ago, Ross Chastain drove to the win at Circuit of the Americas. The Austin, Texas track is a 20-turn road course. It was his first career win at the Cup level.
On Sunday, Trackhouse Racing took the green at the 2.5-mile oval of Talladega Superpseedway. Ross Chastain took the win as Erik Jones and Kyle Larson crashed. After leading just 1 lap, Chastain returned to victory lane for the second time in his career.
And just to highlight the new NASCAR, both wins were in the same car.
Traditionally, teams developed and built their own chassis. Each car design was specific to a track or a type of race track. The idea that a road course car could be used on a superspeedway, was unheard of.
For 2022, the cars are spec. The fames themselves are identical from team to team. Beyond that, many parts and pieces are bought from a single manufacture.
All of those things are designed to create a level playing field. It’s also expected to save the teams on development costs.
It’s a new era…
Ross Chastain comments
“It makes it so special that Jim France and the NASCAR family, their vision for this car,” Ross Chastain stated from the media center after the win.
“You can win on a road course, in a month bring the car back to Talladega. Like, that hasn’t happened since the 1960’s. I don’t know, farther back. I have no idea when they would have different cars.”
“It’s wild. That’s more what it means to me. That this car is capable of that. Change the geometry, the suspension, shift the body a little bit and go race.”
“Change your engine, adjust your rear defuser. Adjust everything and the same car can come race. That’s just wild.”
Chastain detailed, “I’m not sitting here saying it’s any cheaper, yet. I don’t think it’s cheaper for us, than just building a new car like we did in the past. I don’t know the business end of what we’re doing, I just drive the car. It is special.”
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Links
Ross Chastain | Circuit of the Americas | Talladega SuperSpeedway | NASCAR
