For years, NASCAR fans have questioned whether the sport has done enough to protect its drivers. Safety has always been part of the discussion, but the arrival of the Next Gen car pushed those concerns to a new level. Built to modernize the sport and create competitive parity, the car carried big expectations. Many hoped it would enhance both racing and safety, but its rollout has been anything but seamless.

Now that the debate has entered the courtroom, the antitrust trial has exposed rising tension between teams and NASCAR leadership. One statement has pulled an old concern back into focus. The crash that ended Kurt Busch’s full-time career still weighs on fans, and new testimony has stirred those worries again. As questions grow about NASCAR’s commitment to driver safety, attention is

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