DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s Cup Series teeters on the edge of a crisis. The Next Gen car, once heralded as the future, now stifles the thrilling racing that defined stock car competition. Fans pack social media with complaints, drivers voice frustrations, and team owners demand change. The solution isn’t a distant dream—it’s parked in NASCAR’s own garage. The Xfinity Series car delivers heart-pounding races, frequent passes, and photo finishes that rival any motorsport series worldwide. It’s time for NASCAR to adopt this proven machine as the Cup Series foundation, with targeted upgrades to unleash its full potential.
The Xfinity Series shines as a global benchmark for racing excellence in 2025. Drivers battle side-by-side, slinging cars through multi-groove packs that keep fans glued to their screens. Social media buzzes with praise: fans on X rave about Xfinity’s raw intensity, with one user noting it “proves every week” the Cup car’s flaws are fixable. Another argues the Xfinity chassis would save teams millions compared to endless Next Gen tweaks. Statistical evidence backs the hype. Data shows Xfinity races averaging higher passes per green-flag lap than Cup, especially at short tracks like Iowa, where multi-lane action thrives. Stats highlight Xfinity’s string of close finishes, including multiple photo-finishes at tracks like Talladega, outshining Cup’s often predictable outcomes. NASCAR’s own recaps showcase drivers like Shane van Gisbergen dominating road courses while still allowing competitive fields to flourish.
This excitement fuels a ratings surge. Xfinity averages nearly 50% of Cup’s weekly viewership in 2025, a massive leap from past seasons when the gap was far wider. Now, even factoring in the boost from appearing on broadcast television, there’s fact-based evidence here that is hard to ignore. The NASCAR Xfinity Series always put up strong numbers at plate races from Daytona and Talladega, but it’s now dominating the rest of the schedule, too.
Industry trackers note Xfinity races on The CW pulling 1.2 to 1.5 million viewers consistently, driven not just by the network’s reach but by the series’ undeniable appeal on a weekly basis. Rising star Connor Zilisch adds rocket fuel, his aggressive style and victories sparking chatter about him as stock car racing’s next big thing. From team owners to TV executives, Xfinity offers unmatched value: affordable entries, high-return broadcasts, and pure action that captivates fans and media alike.
If you want to see pure American auto racing at its finest, the Xfinity Series is the modern-day standard. Put SVG, Zilisch, Bell and Buescher in an Xfinity car on a road course and enjoy the show. Oh and the same applies to Larson, Hamlin and Blaney on an oval.
Meanwhile, the Cup Series slides almost every week. Keep in mind, all of this comes during a summer stretch with minimal head to head competition.
Now think about the fall stretch for a second. With the allure of playoffs out the window, competing with the NFL and college football is sure to cripple the racing series in September and October.
Jeff Gluck’s weekly “Was It a Good Race?” polls reveal a troubling trend, with 2025 events dipping below 50% approval at tracks like Talladega. Fan analyses online chart a decline from Cup’s historical 67% average, driven by gripes about stagnant racing. Drivers like Kyle Larson acknowledge fan backlash, admitting the car limits their ability to shine. Kyle Busch pulls no punches, calling the product “boring” and urging NASCAR to confront its decline. Even Corey LaJoie critiques the Next Gen’s wide tires and aero issues, which choke passing opportunities.
By summer 2025, the call for a new car has gone mainstream, appearing on the front page of Outkick’s mailbag Monday morning. Fans flood X with demands, joined by drivers, former stars like Mark Martin, owners, and media. Martin also slams the current playoff format, arguing a one-race championship risks fluky results. A three- to four-race finale or a modernized full-season points system would better reward consistency, he and others contend. Fans echo this, with one suggesting 900 horsepower in Xfinity-style cars would “immediately” fix Cup’s woes.
Here’s the plan: make the Xfinity car the Cup Series base. Boost horsepower to 800 or 900 for electrifying speed, while adding safety enhancements like stronger crash structures. Keep Next Gen’s forward-placed door numbers for visibility and single lugnuts for pit efficiency, but only if they improve the product. Nostalgia beckons, though—reverting to traditional lug patterns and pre-Next Gen aesthetics would thrill purists. Crucially, shrink the Next Gen’s oversized 18-inch tires to slimmer profiles that wear faster and reward strategy. Scrap the flat-sheet underbody for old-school designs that let air flow naturally, reducing aero dependency and enabling slingshot passes.
Road courses can remain a bright spot, even with Van Gisbergen’s dominance, as his wins add global flair without killing competition. However, this car limits passing opportunity, leading many to compare the Cup Series on a road course to F1 without the aura. Is that really where we have gotten to? Sigh.
With speeds down gradually over the past decade from 200-plus mph peaks, we need a safe boost. Short tracks and road courses crave higher velocities to open passing zones, though plate tracks like Daytona demand restraint to avoid danger. Just fix the fuel saving issues to prevent a parade for 90% of the race.
Cup boasts unmatched talent—stars like Larson and Hamlin prove it weekly. Pair them with the Xfinity car’s proven platform, and NASCAR could reclaim its glory.
This critique comes from love: NASCAR inspires generations, but complacency threatens its soul. Executives, such as Steve Phelps, Steve O’Donnell, Elton Sawyer and yes, even Ben Kennedy, must look to Xfinity for ideas.
Tweak the horsepower, refine the safety, and restore the raw, unpredictable battles that define stock car racing. The future awaits—let’s race toward it.
NASCAR may not have its early 2000’s mainstream dominance, but it can still become must see TV once again.
Oh and add more practice and on-track action while we’re at it.
With love, from one of your most loyal weekly viewers.
Fix. The. Car.
The failed NextGen car must go as soon as possible. The solution to NASCAR’s biggest problem is right at its fingertips.
Anyways, see y’all at Richmond!
Go fast. Go left. NASCAR, vroom vroom.
Titans WR dusts Bucs defense in practice.
Sanders dazzles in NFL preseason debut.
