NASCAR Drivers Feeling the Hits More in Next Gen Car

Chris Buescher (17), Daniel Suarez (99), Denny Hamlin (11), Justin Haley (31), Kevin Harvick (4), Ty Dillon (42), Aric Almirola (10) and others are involved in a multi-car accident between turns 1 and 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2022. Dow Graham/AP Photo

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The jolts are more jarring, the impacts feel harder and the pain hangs on longer for NASCAR drivers in the first season of the Next Gen car.

Stories of sore backs, headaches and damaged ribs that don’t heal as quickly as they did in the past are more common heading into the opener of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Sunday at Darlington Raceway.