The Next Gen car, rolled out in 2022, was supposed to be NASCAR’s big leap forward, safer, cheaper, and built for parity. But three years in, it’s catching flak, especially on short tracks where fans and drivers crave the raw, slide-happy racing of old. Wider tires and beefier brakes make the cars grip like glue, but that stability’s a double-edged sword.

Drivers aren’t wrestling their machines through corners like they used to, and the lack of sliding has sucked some of the thrill out of the show. Fans miss the days when car control was a spectacle, and the Next Gen’s predictable handling isn’t winning many hearts.

Safety was the big selling point, and NASCAR made strides there. Early crashes raised red flags about driver injuries, especially from rear-end hits. So, they tweaked the rea

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