During the first run of its two-day organizational test at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday, NASCAR worked through various changes to the Next Gen car.
The eight-hour session was divided into three mini sessions, each with a different aero/engine configuration, and started at 8 a.m. ET and ended at 4 p.m. ET. The first had a 550-hp engine and a seven-inch spoiler. The second engine had a 670 horsepower and a six-inch spoiler. The third and final panels remained unchanged, but the spoiler was shifted to the passenger side.
Splitter stuffers, engine panel strakes, and rear diffuser skirts were common across the packages, although new to Next Gen testing in general. The goal of these modifications, according to NASCAR, is to improve traffic predictability. And, unlike last time, each configuration had its own set of on-track times dedicated to pack racing.
On NASCAR’s roster, there were twenty-two drivers and fourteen teams.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford, made his top-dog debut on Wednesday. Gilliland had never raced in the NASCAR Cup Series or tested a Next-Gen car. In late November, he signed a deal to move up from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“There are so many differences – the shifting, the steering,” Gilliland said told NASCAR.com. “Just so many technical things that are different. But it’s been really relieving to me that no, it’s still a race car. After making my first laps, it’s not too different driving wise than what we’ve done before. So, I’m just really excited to continue on testing throughout the day and on Friday, build my notebook as much as possible and get a ton of laps under my belt.”
Justin Haley’s No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet makes another first-time appearance. His new full-time phone number was still unknown. Haley previously tested the No. 16 Chevrolet, which will be shared by three part-time drivers in 2022 — Noah Gragson, Daniel Hemric, and AJ Allmendinger, according to the team.
On Wednesday, no drivers were made accessible to the media.
Teams will return to the 1.5-mile oval for a second day of testing on Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. By that time, NASCAR will have considered Wednesday’s suggestions and selected an one configuration to run for the whole eight-hour session.
“I don’t really know which package I like the best because the last one we shifted the spoiler over with the same horsepower,” Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said. “We’re going to go here and talk and figure out which package everybody kinda liked and see if we can keep working on it. I think that’s what we’ve all got to do is come up with the best possible solution to make sure that we hit the track in 2022 with everything that we need to run well.”
The Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum show in Los Angeles will be the first public appearance for the Next Gen car on Feb. 6 (6 p.m. ET). The 2022 Daytona 500, which will take place two weeks later in Florida, will be its first point-paying race (2:30 p.m. ET). On FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, both events will be broadcast.
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