This website uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are used for visitor analysis, others are essential to making our site function properly and improve the user experience. By using this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Click Accept to consent and dismiss this message or Deny to leave this website. Read our Privacy Statement for more.
Contact Us | Sign In | Join today
News & Press: April 2020

Next Gen car debut delayed until 2022 due to coronavirus pandemic

06 April 2020  

MIA member NASCAR have prepared the following press release.

NASCAR officials announced Thursday that the planned 2021 debut of the Next Gen car has been delayed until 2022.

“Due to challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, the debut of the Next Gen car will be delayed until 2022,” said John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation. “The decision was made in collaboration with the OEMs and team owners. We will continue to develop the Next Gen car, and a revised testing timeline will be shared when more information is available.”

NASCAR Cup Series drivers had been testing the Next Gen model at a variety of tracks since October 2019, prepping for its initial planned debut at the 2021 Daytona 500.

The Next Gen car was on track for its fourth formal test in March, when William Byron took the wheel at 2-mile Auto Club Speedway. Previously, Austin Dillon (Richmond, .75 miles), Joey Logano (Phoenix, 1 mile) and Erik Jones (Miami, 1.5 miles) took their turns testing the car and providing crucial feedback to NASCAR officials.

Earlier this year, NASCAR announced the Next Gen prototype’s new features include 18-inch, single center-locking lug wheels designed by German wheel manufacturer BBS.

Other features include a new body design, a shorter rear spoiler, a raised splitter and larger brakes, giving the Next Gen model a closer correlation between a highway-going consumer vehicle and its NASCAR counterpart, a move that also means increased brand identity.

Drivers who have piloted the car come away with plenty of learnings – and positive reviews.

“It’s not about what drives the best, what’s the easiest to drive … we don’t want that,” Joey Logano said after testing the car at Richmond. “We want something that’s challenging that will show that the best driver and the best team will prevail. … So we’re trying things on different extremes.

“We’re still in the preliminary stages, but we definitely have some cool pieces to the car.”

Read the full article here.

« Back to Index