Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski detail the meeting with NASCAR regarding safety
At the start of the 2022 season, NASCAR launched the Next Gen car. Per data, the new car is suppose to be the safest NASCAR race car design to date.
However, for most of the season, drivers have stated the opposite. Recently, the concerns from the drivers have become apparent.
Currently, three NASCAR Cup Series drivers are on the sidelines due to injuries. Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman and Cody Ware all suffered injuries in recent weeks.
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On Wednesday, NASCAR hosted a crash test with updates to the Next Gen car. However, those potential updates likely won’t be put into place until the 2023 season.
Currently, NASCAR is in the final stage of the 2022 playoffs.
On Friday, NASCAR hosted a closed meeting with their drivers. The drivers brought a face-to-face conversation in regards to safety…
Christopher Bell comments on the Next Gen safety
“I believe they showed us the crash test data from Wednesday as what they showed us was better,” Christopher Bell stated.
Joey Logano comments
“The meeting was very open and honest,” Joey Logano stated.
“Which I feel was necessary for all the drivers to get some things off their chest. From what we’ve been going through from the experiences inside the car.”
“The frustrating part is it took way too long to have that meeting. That meeting should have happened Monday after Kurt’s crash, not until Alex had his crash to have a meeting.”
“i’m not saying they weren’t working on it after Kurt’s crash. But, communication, in person, is so important.”
“We should be having those meetings, not when we need to but before we need to. Those messages were heard loud and clear.”
“There is a plan to help the rear impacts. But, we need to stay focused on the rest of the car as well. There’s a lot of other spots we want to make better on the car as well.”
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Denny Hamlin comments
“At this point, I feel like I’ve said everything I could on the safety side,” Denny Hamlin stated.
“Now, we just wait on their results. We heard what they said they were going to do. Now, we just sit back and wait.”
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Kyle Larson comments
“It was an open conversation, really. A lot of drivers voiced their frustrations and concerns,” Kyle Larson stated.
“It was good to do that. And look drivers in the eyes and see their frustration.”
“They’re obviously working on things. They are in a box with this car being quite a bit different than the previous car. But, they are working toward things being a little bit better on us.”
“What they’ve learned is not as good as the previous car, still. But, it’s at least an improvement. So, that side of things, is good.”
“They are in a box, the rears of these cars is much shorter than the past car. They had things while designing it at higher priority, you know, introductions and keeping the fuel cell in tact.”
“There is a box they’re trying to work within.”
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Brad Keselowski comments
“Yeah, everybody had a little bit to say,” Brad Keselowski commented.
“It may be a little bit of a festivus but that’s ok. Sometimes, we need that.”
“More or less, we’re on the right path. Just not pleased with where we’re at today.”
Links
Alex Bowman | Kurt Busch | NASCAR
