Kyle Larson, the winningest driver of the Next-Gen era in NASCAR, recently shared his candid thoughts on the ongoing complaints from drivers about the Generation 7 (Next-Gen) cars. Since their introduction in the 2022 Cup season, these cars have sparked significant controversy within the racing community. While they have made competition tighter and racing more aggressive, many feel the racing has become less entertaining. Larson acknowledged that drivers themselves are as much a part of the controversy as the fans, as they frequently complain about the Next-Gen cars nearly every week.
Larson pointed out the inconsistency in the complaints, noting that criticism tends to subside during streaks of good races but resurfaces quickly after any underwhelming event. He attributed this to basic human nature and greed-everyone always wants the best and most exciting racing product. NASCAR has been working hard to find tweaks to improve the situation without making major design changes, but Larson recognizes that finding a perfect solution will be difficult. He suggested that NASCAR listening more to drivers could be a positive step toward meaningful change.
Regarding the racing quality, Larson admitted the product has gotten a little stale and that all drivers would welcome trying something new to improve it. He discussed the idea of increasing horsepower from the current 670HP to possibly 750HP, which some have proposed. Larson said he and other drivers would be open to such changes, though he was unsure if it would drastically change the racing. He emphasized the need for a “drastic change” to help revive excitement on the tracks.
Larson’s recent win at Kansas Motor Speedway marked his third victory of the 2025 season. Ahead of this race, he expressed skepticism about new tire changes intended to increase wear and lap time fall-off, which NASCAR and Goodyear introduced to improve racing quality. He warned that if the race turned out boring, fans would only complain more about the cars and the sport. This candid remark sparked a debate with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who remained optimistic about Kansas Speedway’s reputation for exciting races and believed the trend of dull races would break there.
Looking ahead, Larson is preparing for a demanding schedule, including an attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 with Arrow McLaren and then competing in the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. The following week will be even busier with the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race. Larson experienced difficulties with this “double duty” last season but remains focused on executing well in both events this year.
In summary, Kyle Larson’s perspective on the Next-Gen car controversy is that drivers share responsibility for the complaints, which often fluctuate with race quality. He supports exploring changes like increased horsepower to improve the racing product but recognizes the challenge in finding a perfect fix. His remarks highlight the tension between driver frustrations, fan expectations, and NASCAR’s efforts to evolve the sport while maintaining competitive and entertaining racing.
