Teams say they need four cars by Jan 27th; The Stewart-Haas Racing #4 team has just one center-section at the shop
For 2022, NASCAR launched a brand new spec chassis, identical from team to team. The Next Gen car was designed to increase safety, reduce costs on the teams and level the playing field.
In crash test data, the car outperformed previous versions on every level.
Yet, all year, drivers stated the opposite. Weeks after Kurt Busch was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, drivers still felt like they weren’t making progress. So, the drivers turned to the media and made their voices heard.
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NASCAR stepped into action. They quickly setup weekly meetings with the drivers and detailed changes that were already in the works regarding safety.
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2023 Updates
Bars toward the center cage are being removed for 2023. There’s also changes to the rear of the car. Both of which are designed to create more crush within the chassis, absorbing greater impacts.
NASCAR is covering the costs of these changes.
Now, there’s a new problem. Teams need their cars back after getting these updates. The 2023 season is set to begin on February 5th, 2023.
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Mike Kelley of JTG stated via twitter, “Today we finished up for the year, the boys have been working hard, deadlines are being met. When we come back in January, it’s a push that won’t end till November. We know the assignment. JTGRacing setting our goals high.”
Rodney Childers asked, “Do you have any cars?!? 4 team has 1 center cage back from the updates.. gonna be hard to have 4 cars done and ready by Jan 27th.”
Why does the team need 4 cars by Jan 27th?
Childers detailed, “Bodies for the clash and both Daytona cars would have to be on by then. And Fontana would need to go on a body plate by Feb 2nd. Car needs to be complete and on a body plate 3 weeks before the event.”
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