During Friday morning’s State of the Sport address, NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell discussed many things about the present and future of the sport. One of the major items was the Gen 7 race car, or the “NEXT Gen” car as it is commonly known. Steve addressed the current-generation Cup Series race car.

Steve defended the car, promoting the fact that many owners and even a new OEM have joined the sport thanks to the current car; you have many new owners who have come into the sport. Stating, “You have an ownership landscape that is much healthier than it was before. You have Dodge entering the sport. You have other OEMs who are looking at it, and you have pretty good racing.”

Steve made it clear that there is no Generation 8 car coming any time soon, adding, “For us, we want a sustainable model for the industry; a Gen 8 or next-gen car comes with all kinds of costs and all kinds of different things.”

The current car was on the horizon long before we ever saw it hit the track at the Colosseum in 2022, but the COVID pandemic, as well as issues with suppliers, held the car’s debut back for multiple years. Fans haven’t taken to the modular chassis platform, which many blame for what many would call ‘unwatchable’ road course or short track racing we have today.

Image: Julian Wayne/ SFM