NASCAR Q&A: Will drivers be OK with tougher-to-drive Next Gen cars?

What’s this about the Next Gen cars being hard to drive? Is that a good thing?

Following last week’s big-group test at Charlotte, the consensus was, yes, the new cars debuting next season have gotten everyone’s attention behind the wheel.

“We don’t want the cars to be easy to drive,” said John Probst, NASCAR’s head of racing innovation. “We’ve always said we want the best drivers running up front.”

Austin Dillon wrecked and a few others spun at Charlotte, and general consensus credited (blamed?) a lack of side-force, which is credited (blamed?) on the bigger 18-inch wheels and larger tire sidewalls. It seems obvious tougher-handling cars would, over time, help identify the better drivers and bring those drivers to the front. However …

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Uh-oh, you smell unintended consequences?

I seem to remember a time or two (or three) over the years when a new aero package was designed to raise the degree of difficulty and bring the cream to the top.

The drivers suggest they’re all for it, much like golfers pretend to be in favor of tougher course setups at major championships. But such a thing can lead to less passing and side-by-side action because if they’re tougher to drive, it’s tougher to pass.

Here’s one fact you can write down: No matter the aero and horsepower packages, some will be OK with it and some others won’t. That’s not exactly true. In reality, most others aren’t OK with it.