William Byron criticizes NASCAR Next Gen car after Super Late Model race
After William Byron battled Stephen Nasse in a great Super Late Model race at New Smyrna, he had some things to say. Byron is usually seen as “reserved” and as a Hendrick driver, often is, to be fair. NASCAR wins leader this season was not reserved tonight.
The offseason is just one week old and it’s great so far. These fall Late Model and Super Late Model races are fun. NASCAR drivers throughout the national series sign up to get some more wheel time.
William Byron threw down with Stephen Nasse today and fans loved it. There’s a reason for that, according to Byron.
“You have battles like this on short tracks when tires/brakes etc give up,” Byron tweeted. “Mechanical parts of the car aren’t so good that you have to manage and can find something more to go get at the end. Fun battle.”
Later, while responding to a fan who said he was “throwing shade” at NASCAR, Byron corrected the record.
“Not shade. Just how I see it [through] my experience.”
Drivers have complained that the Next Gen car is too good. It handles too well on road courses. The tires are too wide and have fallen off. Even the parts throughout the car are more or less more durable than in years past.
A lot of that has to do with the power the cars have. 550 horsepower isn’t really putting pressure on the system. These cars aren’t pushed to their limits as they are in Super Late Models and other stock cars.
While adding power could help, NASCAR claims they are lowering engine bills this way. Less stress on an engine extends its life. However, others have started to push back against that narrative after two years of the Next Gen car.
William Byron has a point about the Next Gen car
Right now, there are two sides to this argument. NASCAR’s and then the drivers and teams. Yes, teams said they wanted to save money and that’s why the Next Gen car and single-source suppliers came into play. In addition to that was the 550 package.
Drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and others have pushed for at least a test with increased horsepower. The Next Gen car is the most aero-focused car ever in the Cup Series. So, there is a lot to do there and with the tires, underwing, and more. At some point, it’s the power of the car.
If there is not enough stress put on these cars to force drivers to make decisions, should I pit or should I keep running long? Do we sit around the top-5 and then really show what we’ve got in the final stage?
As William Byron mentioned, when the car is under threat of failure, you have to manage it. Be smart. It isn’t just pressing right trigger, getting to the front, and then blocking everyone from passing like it’s Mario Kart.
NASCAR might be open to a horsepower increase, but the manufacturers will have to have about a year to turn around a new engine.