'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. addressed NextGen car's drawback which seemingly played a part in Josh Berry's dismal Kansas weekend. The former outlined that because the Gen-7's rear diffuser is placed underneath the vehicle, it becomes tough to tow when the tires go flat.
The opening lap of the Hollywood Casino 400 saw Berry wrecking out on the opening lap. There wasn't any damage beyond repair but flat compounds. Thus, NASCAR awarded the SHR driver a DNF, as he got spun by contact, not by driver error. As a result, his #4 Ford Mustang was towed to the campground instead of the pitlane.
The advent of NextGen cars has seen the rear diffuser attached to the bottom of the vehicle. During Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Dirty Mo Media podcast, the co-host pointed out that, unlike the previous versions, the Gen-7 vehicle poses a big challenge when the need to tow arises, as they have a harder time moving.
Trending
Jr. responded and reasoned why such a thing happens, saying:
"The reason why NextGen has a harder time is because they put a diffuser underneath the car and the diffuser works at best when it is very close to the ground. So, they try to run the cars as low as possible in the back and when you take air out of the tires, the car is literally sitting on the ground and it will not move. So, that's kind of the issue there," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said (40:18).
NextGen cars have a stepped front splitter, aero vents atop the bonnet, and side skirts to reduce side force in high-octane machines. The rear diffuser enhances the transition of the high-velocity airstream, increasing the vehicle's stability at high speeds.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. comments on NASCAR's Damaged Vehicle Policy in light of Josh Berry's Kansas DNF
After getting wrecked out and having multiple flats, Berry's Ford was towed to the campground. However, the SHR driver expected to be dropped on the pit road as he asked the officials for it. But his request wasn't fulfilled and thus, Berry asked crew chief Rodney Childers to address the situation.
Despite the 2014 Cup Series championship-winning crew chief's efforts to arrange for his driver's return to the 1.5-mile tri-oval, he got no response from NASCAR officials and was frustrated with the "screw up." According to DVP, if a driver fails to steer into the pits after a wreck, they are automatically awarded a DNF. And the rear diffuser became a hindrance when Berry tried to fire with several flat tires.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. referenced Josh Berry's wreck and analyzed NASCAR's DVP. He said (via Dirty Mo Media on X).
"There's a lot of reasons why this vehicle policy's in place. But is it perfect? Maybe not. Would you have liked to have seen Josh Berry or any guy in that situation to be able to put tires on his car and go back out there and finish the race? Yes," he said.
"I'm hoping in the offseason, they'll look at how they can adjust the policy without ruining the intent of the policy," Dale Earnhardt Jr. added (0:28).
After the SHR driver's controversial DNF, NASCAR announced they would re-evaluate their Damaged Vehicle Policy.
