‘Enough’ – NASCAR Fans Demand Change For 2026 Season originally appeared on The Spun.
NASCAR fans are demanding a major change for the 2026 season, though it’s probably not possible at this point.
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The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series arrived in New York over the weekend. The Go Bowling at The Glen race took place on Sunday afternoon. Shane Van Gisbergen took home the checkered flag, adding to his big-time rookie season.
NBC Sports named him the “biggest winner” of the weekend – it’s hard to argue with that, obviously.
“Scored his fourth consecutive road course victory, winning by 11.1 seconds — the second largest margin of victory in Cup history at Watkins Glen. He becomes the third driver in series history to win four consecutive road course races. He is the first driver to win four road course races in a season,” NBC Sports writes.
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But while the weekend was a good one for Van Gisbergen, it was not for many NASCAR Cup Series fans.
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – APRIL 13: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, leads during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 13, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Sean Gardner/Getty Images
NASCAR fans are more than fed up with the current car, the Next Gen Car, which came into use in 2022. The car was supposed to feature “improved” aero and downforce packages while adding new technology to the sport. It was also supposed to decrease costs and bring in new equipment manufacturers.
While that all could still be true, NASCAR fans are not happy with what the Next Gen Car has done to racing.
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“The Next Gen is the worst race car that has ever been used in NASCAR,” one fan wrote following Sunday’s race.
Most seem to be in agreement. They would love to see some kind of major NASCAR Cup Series car change for 2026 and beyond.
“I hate how the Next Gen has made our fans want the Cup series to stop going to some of the most beautiful and unique race tracks in North America,” one fan added.
“I speak for the ENTIRE fanbase when I say we need LESS road course races with the Next Gen,” one fan added.
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“The Next Gen car needs to be nerfed, it drives too good and now the racing isn’t good. We need race cars that suck at braking and cornering for great racing,” one fan added.
“If next gen was capable of racing like Xfinity on road courses people would stop complaining about road courses,” one fan added.
“The NASCAR Cup Series schedule SHOULD NOT be molded around the Next Gen car. The Next Gen car should be molded to the race tracks the series has attended for decades. The lack of development on this car is ridiculous,” one fan added.
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NASCAR fans are fed up, but it remains to be seen if any major changes will be made for 2026 and beyond.
‘Enough’ – NASCAR Fans Demand Change For 2026 Season first appeared on The Spun on Aug 11, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.