The arrival of NASCAR’s Next Gen car in 2022 promised closer competition. But it has also sparked heavy criticism from veterans who once dominated superspeedways. In previous generations, names like Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, and Denny Hamlin defined the art of drafting and pack management. Their skill behind the wheel often dictated who survived Daytona or Talladega. Today, those same races have turned into lotteries where wrecks seem inevitable. Long-time front-runners now find themselves caught in the chaos. That shift has made Hamlin’s recent frustrations resonate even more across the garage.

The debate has grown louder because the biggest stages in the sport, like the Daytona 500s and Talladega showdowns, no longer appear to reward craft. Since the d

See Full Page