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Photos: NASCAR Next Gen Test at Charlotte Road Course

Posted by AR1 staff

A host of NASCAR drivers and teams got their Next Gen feet wet Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval for an open organizational test of the 2022 livery.

The test continues Tuesday.

NASCAR plans additional testing for the Next Gen car next season.

This is the first of four organizational tests before next season. The other organizational tests will be:

  • Nov. 17-18 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval
  • Dec. 14-15 at Phoenix Raceway
  • Jan. 11-12 at Daytona International Speedway

The 2022 season begins with the Feb. 6 NASCAR Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

John Probst, NASCAR senior vice president of racing innovation, said Monday that NASCAR also plans three other organizational tests next year.

For road courses and short tracks, it will be 670 horsepower and a 4-inch spoiler.

That is the package teams ran in Monday’s test at the Charlotte Roval. Probst said lap times Monday were more than a second faster than the lap times in Sunday’s race. He cited the wider tire, better brakes, improved shifting with the sequential shift and aerodynamics of the car as factors for the faster lap times even with less horsepower than what was run in Sunday’s race.

For intermediate tracks, the plan is a 550-horsepower package with an 8-inch spoiler.

The package for Daytona and Talladega has not been determined. It will be finalized at the January test.

Corey LaJoie, driver of the #7 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Ty Dillon driver of the #94 Next Gen car talks with crew in the garage area during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Corey LaJoie, driver of the #7 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Next Gen car drives during the NASCAR Cup Series test at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
Kevin Harvick