Kyle Larson crew chief Cliff Daniels diagnoses problems with Next Gen car in Cup Series racing

Today has been one heck of a day for information from crew chiefs like Cliff Daniels, Kyle Larson’s man on the pit box. Daniels is joining the debate over the NASCAR Next Gen car.

Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson have won 21 races together and 12 pole awards. They have five of each this season alone. Daniels and other crew chiefs like Chris Gabehart (No. 11 Hamlin) and Ryan Bergenty (No. 38 Gilliland).

Today, Daniels not only went on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, but he has been posting about the Next Gen car online as well. Daniels has even been responding to fans.

“Chew on this. Old car and current Xfinity, the trailing car can move the leading car with air. Nose down and back up. G7 [Gen-7] racing is nose up and back down and trailing car cannot scoop or pack air towards the leading car bumper,” Daniels said in one post. “We can work on this to allow trailing car to ‘move that guy.’ Yes tires and [horsepower] are in the equation, but we have lost that dynamic in G7 car.”

Kyle Larson’s crew chief believes the Next Gen is a solid platform. While what it has done on certain tracks has been fantastic, all-time racing, there is a downside. When it comes to short tracks and road courses, there is something missing.

Cliff Daniels defends Next Gen car, admits flaws

Despite there being flaws on certain tracks, Cliff Daniels believes this car can be reworked. NASCAR has a lot of smart people, surely there is a solution to creating solid short-track racing.

Daniels even defended the Next Gen car a bit.

“The frame work of the G7 car and idea provides great racing on some tracks and we want better on others. That’s perfectly ok,” Cliff Daniels said. “I think we can find some ideas to help it on the tracks that need it, and we’ll have a great racing package for a long time to come.”

Not sure why. The frame work of the G7 car and idea provides great racing on some tracks and we want better on others. That’s perfectly ok. I think we can find some ideas to help it on the tracks that need it, and we’ll have a great racing package for a long time to come https://t.co/YmknEhOO0p

— Cliff Daniels (@DanielsCliff) September 26, 2024

Many fans were saying the Xfinity Series platform should just be applied to the Cup Series. Honestly, not a terrible idea, but not a practical one for NASCAR and its overall identity.

“That’s not my points,” Daniels said in response to a fan. “NG7 [Next Gen car] platform is here to stay and bear in mind it’s producing some of the best INT [intermediate] and SSW [superspeedway] races the sport has had in a while. Some RC [road course] races also. ST races need help, we’re all on the same page. It can be done.

“Keep watching, keep supporting, and don’t give up on us. Also tune in this weekend. Kansas will be a great race.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.