The year is 2024. We are solidly in the Next Gen era of NASCAR. There are no longer any full time drivers who were around to compete during the old points system. For readers who may not know about the old points system, I will explain. The entire season used to mean something. Each race in which points could be earned was worth the same amount. There were bonus points if you led and bonus points if you led the most laps. There were no playoffs, and teams were allowed to work on the cars.
Before I write any further, I need to provide a disclaimer. This text will contain a lot of sarcasm and will be somewhat satirical in nature. If you happened to have read any of my previous articles, you realize that I am not a fan of the next gen car. I hated it in its first season, and I still hate it after its second season.
It is not, solely, the actual car that I despise, but rather, it is the whole approach with which it comes that I loathe. NASCAR’s whole approach reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron.” Hopefully, history will one day look back at this Next Gen experiment, as a short lived, pseudo-woke era of enforced parity and equality to the point of parody.
Equal every which way…
The short story, “Harrison Bergeron” is set in the year 2081 in a dystopian United States. As many dystopian futures go, the intentions which led to this depressing future could have been described as good, even Utopian. Finally, equality had been achieved in every way possible. Agents from the U.S. Handicapper General strictly enforced this “equality.”
The Handicapper General agents countered intelligence with a device placed in the ear. This device blasted loud noises into the ear of the person wearing it ever so often. This kept them from utilizing their “unfair advantage.” Individuals with physical strength wore weights to ensure they were equal to everyone else. Ultimately, the government ensured that everyone was equal in every way possible.
As a result, no one excelled at anything, until Harrison Bergeron illegally removed his handicapping devices and did the same for everyone involved in a televised ballet and put on a real show. Then, the Handicapper General kills Harrison and his dance partner; she then threatens all the musicians to put their handicap devices back on. Harrison’s parents had been watching on TV, but they don’t even realize what has happened, due to their handicap devices.
Next Gen as NASCAR’s Handicapper General…
In many ways, the Next Gen era in NASCAR reminds me of this short story. Firstly, the next gen car itself is meant to set an equal playing field for each driver. Throughout the 2022 season, the announcers could not help but bring up the so-called parity. Ultimately, there wasn’t much else to talk about in 2022 as there were a total of 19 different winners.
Secondly, the resulting product on the track is reminiscent of the average ballet in the story. Of course, this is really up to each fan’s interpretation of what constitutes “good racing.” For myself, they have less horsepower and more grip with the tire, well that’s like if the NFL suddenly started using NERF equipment and switched to flag football. Yes, there is a lot of side-by-side racing. Who says that is good racing? Maybe the casual fan enjoys this, but the hardcore fan probably doesn’t. Personally, I miss seeing huge leads develop and seeing if any other team can adjust their cars enough to run the leader down.
Finally, the penalties handed out to teams during this era are also reminiscent of “Harrison Bergeron.” For example, the 2023 fall Talladega race with Ryan Blaney barely beating Kevin Harvick to the finish line. That was an exciting finish, but NASCAR basically erased that excitement by disqualifying the #4 car. There was an issue with windshield fasteners. The year before at the same race, the #4 car was penalized heavily for altering the provided parts.
How far do we take this drive for parity?
With the 2024 season upon us, I have to ask the following two questions. First, how far can NASCAR take this weird and wrong desire for parity? Second, if we are lucky enough for NASCAR to realize they’re killing the sport we all love, what can be done to improve the Next Gen era of racing?
If this past season’s playoff season opener at Darlington is taken into account, clearly, Tyler Reddick has some problems seeing over the dashboard. In a move that, in hindsight, probably ended The Closer, Kevin Harvick’s, final playoff run, Reddick tried to pit from the lead exiting turn 4 after seeing Harvick pitting from second. Obviously, Reddick was either suffering from his lower height or his lower IQ. (Chill out Reddick fans, and refer to the disclaimer near the beginning of this article. This is the satirical part.)
How does NASCAR approach that type of issue with parity in mind? Do we need to make sure that every other driver has as much trouble seeing over the dashboard? Perhaps, NASCAR could just pull an idea directly from the short story and install a handicapping device in the ear of drivers with higher IQs. Maybe, we can make other drivers wear glasses that make it more difficult to see the pit road lights. (Chill out Harvick fans. I’m just trying to bring parity to my satirical ridicule of this specific situation. We all know the #4 team was screwed over at Darlington.)
When does the Post-Next Gen Era Begin, and how?
While I enjoy being pessimistic when it comes to NASCAR executives and their micro-managing of their sport, I recall a lot of people not liking the old “Car of Tomorrow.” Of course, back then, CEO Brian France was able to admit that the Car of Tomorrow was a big mistake. While the Car of Tomorrow was admittedly a total failure, NASCAR learned from the mistake and took the CoT chassis improvements and allowed manufacturers to design a new body around it in 2013. This gave fans the generation 6. It was great, up until NASCAR started trying to micro-manage their product to cramp the field together.
For an exercise in total futility, let us assume that those running the sport now can admit this style of racing just isn’t that great. Personally, I feel like more horsepower could definitely improve this car. The cars should be more difficult to drive. I’ve always been a fan of high horsepower and low downforce. Also, let the crew chiefs and teams work on the cars. In this type of setting, you don’t have to do all these promotions to try and get drivers over, as if they were professional wrestlers. Real superstars (and real rivalries) develop.
Perhaps, one day, down the road, executives will relinquish their totalitarian control of the teams. Rather than trying to attract new fans to the sport with a lot of flashy “side by side” parades of teams running the same speeds, NASCAR could just work on not losing their hardcore fan base. Then again, maybe NASCAR is just stuck within the general American culture. Maybe parity in sports is the current “thing” to do.
Final Thoughts…
Honestly, I am very doubtful that NASCAR will admit where they are wrong with this Next Gen car. Certainly, we will continue to see insane penalties meant to shift the general culture of the garage. This is troubling. Unlimited competition and a win by any means necessary approach to racing has been the general culture. That culture gave us a great and wonderful sport. Why try and change that?
I am so glad to hear @nascar is completely wasting the teams time and money with the @phoenixraceway test. Still working on a aero package that came from a video game and refusing to run the Higher HP package. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Robert Brandt (@bamaboynnc) December 6, 2023
One thing is clear. If NASCAR really wants this Next Gen, can’t pass, extra grip, no horsepower, field under a blanket, random chaos (except for in the garage, where there is totalitarian control over the provided parts) type of racing product, then they’re going to have to lobby DC heavily. They’re going to need the Federal Government to utilize the dystopian tactics of “Harrison Bergeron” to handicap the viewers. That way when I have a thought like, “Man there’s no passing, sure would be nice if they had more…” then a loud noise will go off in my ear. Thus, I won’t be able to continue the thought. It would be like nothing was wrong with the racing product. I’d just believe the BS the nice folks in the booth were trying to sell me.
Since NASCAR doesn’t want to really fix this car, they need to bring parity to the viewer. Make us all as easily satisfied as the type of fans they currently chase.
