Does stock car racing still reach its peak with the NASCAR Cup Series? After shocking lap time data from the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) showed a concerning reality—Cup cars, the so-called ‘best of the best’, were slower than Xfinity cars on the same track—that is the question that has been plaguing both fans and insiders. Cup cars were unquestionably the quickest stock cars in the world for many years, but that has changed as a result of NASCAR’s efforts to reduce costs and promote parity.
The most serious offender? Limitations in horsepower and aerodynamic drag. The substantial aero wake produced by the Next-Gen car’s underbody and rear diffuser reduces top-end speed, particularly on lengthy straightaways like those at COTA. Expecting blazing lap times that would surpass anything seen in the Xfinity Series, fans propagated forward. Cup cars, after all, were meant to represent the ultimate in-stock car performance; they had independent rear suspension, larger brakes, and wider tires. The timing screens, however, revealed a different picture. 1:38.08 is the Cup Series pole time. 1:37.26 is the pole time for the Xfinity Series.
As the realization set in, the NASCAR garage fell silent. Its feeder series has just overtaken the first level. This isn’t an anomaly. It results from NASCAR’s Next Gen vehicle philosophy, which was implemented in 2022 to level the playing field. But Cup teams are having trouble on road courses as a result of the unforeseen consequences. Cup vehicles aren’t as quick as stock cars, even with their larger tires, stronger brakes, independent suspension, and world-class drivers.
Qualifying times by car type at COTA this weekend:
LMP3: 1:30.15
GT3: 1:32.60
Xfinity: 1:37.26
Cup: 1:38.08
GT4: 1:39.25— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) March 3, 2025
The Racing community was in shock to see the figures posted by Bozi Tatarevic on X. And what followed next was a mix of criticism, suggestions and ideas to elevate the Cup Racing experiences on road courses.
A Performance Crisis? Fans Question If Cup is Still the Top Series
Drivers and spectators quickly voiced their dissatisfaction with the backlash. “I remember thinking the Cup cars were going to be seconds ahead of the Xfinity cars on road courses,” said Josh Bilicki, a driver for Xfinity. I’m still puzzled as to why they aren’t. The unlimited 750+ horsepower that NASCAR Cup cars used to have at road courses was reduced to 670 horsepower.
On the other hand, Xfinity vehicles maintain a comparable power output but have reduced aero drag, which enables them to accelerate more effectively. “Aren’t Cup cars supposed to be fast on road courses?” stated one enraged fan plainly. There have been growing worries even within the NASCAR garage. “And keep in mind that the Cup cars have ‘the best stock car drivers,’ so if they have equal cars, they should be faster, right?” noted veteran industry figure Don Frantz, pointing out the obvious contradiction.
The harshest criticism, however, was delivered with unadulterated sarcasm: “The fourth slowest on the track is the highest form of American motorsports. Fantastic work, Steves.“ The remark, which was aimed at NASCAR officials Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell, shows a growing dissatisfaction with the way the sport’s top level has been dulled by leadership’s choices.
While some contend that Goodyear’s softer tires are a positive move, others maintain that the only practical remedy is more horsepower. To put a bit more heat in these soft tires, one fan put it this way: “It would be nice if Steve Phelps would give the green light to at least get back to 750 HP.” For the time being, NASCAR is in a difficult situation. Although the Cup Series is unquestionably the pinnacle of stock car racing, the statistics don’t support this claim. Fans, drivers, and teams will get increasingly irate if NASCAR doesn’t resolve these problems quickly.
On paper, Xfinity cars should still be gutted by Cup cars. Larger Brakes: Cup vehicles have more sophisticated braking systems that enable better turning and later braking. Independent Rear Suspension: Cup cars have an advanced independent arrangement for better handling than the Xfinity car’s antiquated solid axle. Wider Tires: Better grip and possibly faster lap times are achieved with more rubber on the road. “Genuinely, how are the Xfinity cars faster? They have less power, more (?) weight, smaller tires, less aero, smaller brakes, and a significantly worse rear suspension design.” Another user added.
The Next-Gen car has been mired in controversies and complaints ever since it was rolled out. These discussions peaked with Ryan Preece’s yet another wild flip at Daytona International Speedway. Clearly, the aero-heavy design and parity aren’t working wonders for the premier series. Perhaps it is time for the sanctioning body to do away with the band-aid mechanism and bring about real change to its mean machine. Which for the time being is more power.
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