Following the antitrust lawsuit settlement, NASCAR has worked to steady the ship and restore confidence among its audience by addressing fan concerns on several fronts. Among those steps was changing the sport\u2019s overall format and the decision to part ways with Steve Phelps, whose tenure included meaningful contributions to the organization, but his public remarks drew sustained backlash from the fan base. The move showed NASCAR\u2019s willingness to acknowledge frustration.<\/p>\n
NASCAR also addressed on-track matters. It increased the horsepower for the Next Gen car, a point fans and competitors had pressed for. At the negotiating table, the organization also reached common ground with Denny Hamlin\u2019s 23XI Racing and Bob Jenkins\u2019 Front Row Motorsports, moving toward a charter agreement on key terms that benefitted the teams and the sport.<\/p>\n
Taken together, those efforts showed NASCAR\u2019s attempt to repair fractures that had widened over time and rebuild trust across the industry. Speaking during media day at Bowman Gray Stadium, Hamlin gave his take on the topic. \u201cYeah, hopefully,\u201d he said of the relationship between the industry and NASCAR improving.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the goal. We all use it as a reset, we need to think more holistically and trying to make it better as opposed to maybe criticizing this and that. Holistically, are we heading in the right direction?\u201d He expanded on that point by stressing patience. \u201cOne moment might not be exactly how we want it, but is it generally heading the right way?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve looked at the inner strategy of NASCAR of what they put out to us to get back to where we were, and I think it\u2019s the right strategy. This is not going to be something that we\u2019re going to see right away; it\u2019s something that could take time within the garage. The proof will be in the pudding that the sport and the teams have said they wanted to do for the last decade.\u201d<\/p>\n