Hamlin Delivers Harsh Reality Check on Earnhardt Jr.'s Superspeedway Dream

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NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has poured cold water on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s dream for more exciting superspeedway racing in the Next Gen car era. Hamlin explained that the new car's increased downforce and drag make it nearly impossible to implement Earnhardt's vision of cars being able to pull away from the pack at full throttle. While Hamlin likes the idea in theory, he acknowledged the physics of the Next Gen car make it an extremely difficult challenge to overcome.

Why it matters

Superspeedway racing at tracks like Daytona and Talladega has become increasingly processional and single-file in the Next Gen era, frustrating fans and drivers who want to see more pack racing and passing. Earnhardt's proposed solution aimed to reward aggressive driving and break up the tight packs, but Hamlin's analysis suggests the aerodynamic realities of the new car make that vision very difficult to achieve.

The details

Hamlin broke down the key numbers - the Next Gen car produces 200 more counts of downforce and 100 more counts of drag compared to the previous Gen 6 car, despite having a similar spoiler size. This massive increase in drag makes it nearly impossible for cars to pull away from the pack, even with a significant reduction in spoiler size. Hamlin acknowledged the idea has merit, but the underlying physics of the car's design poses a major challenge.

• Hamlin discussed these issues on his 'Actions Detrimental' podcast on February 24, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Hamlin suggested that even small aerodynamic changes, like removing the Lexan from the spoiler, could make a meaningful difference in superspeedway racing, even if they don't fully solve the problem. He emphasized the importance of incremental improvements over waiting for a perfect solution.