The seventh-generation NASCAR Next Gen Cup Series car is about to wrap up its fifth season and it’s still getting mixed reviews. The car was a radical departure from previous generations that introduced an independent rear suspension, low-profile tires, a sequential five-speed transmission and many other new features.
NASCAR has been struggling to make it race well on short tracks and superspeedways since it launched and a lot of drivers and fans have suggested that it’s time to start over from scratch, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell was asked about it during his NASCAR State of the Sport press conference at Homstead-Miami Speeday ahead of the championship weekend and said the seventh-generation car accomplished its primary objectives of controlling costs, bringing new team owners into the sport and creating a “sustainable model for the industry.” It was also instrumental in Dodge deciding to return to the Cup Series in 2027 and he said other automakers are also showing interest.
The short track and road course package was updated with more horsepower and a new aerodynamic profile this season, while the final two superspeedway races featured less power and a new low-drag body configuration. Both had a positive effect, but the consensus seems to be that more work needs to be done and O’Donnel said they will continue to experiment and tweak the car rather than replace in the near future. However, he did say that the latest superspeedway package will likely be used for the Daytona 500.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series car is a different matter. It’s based on earlier generation Cup car designs and O’Donnell said they are keeping an eye on the parts supply situation in determining when they will need to move to a new chassis. It also uses a solid rear axle and H-patter four-speed transmission, which create a driver development gap between the series and Cup.
