While the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series enjoy a ‘summer break’ of sorts for NBC’s coverage of The Olympic Games, the hard-work has not stopped for NASCAR and manufacturers, as the series prepares for the implementation of NASCAR’s Next Gen car, which is set to debut at Daytona International Speedway in February 2022.
Texas Motor Speedway became the latest track on the NASCAR schedule to see the Next Gen car in action, with Tuesday and Wednesday’s wheel force transducer testing session for each of the NASCAR Cup Series’ three manufacturers. Justin Allgaier (Chevrolet), Drew Herring (Toyota), and David Ragan (Ford) were the three drivers involved in testing each of the OEM’s branded vehicles.
Just turn up 🔊 and enjoy 😌#NextGen | #NLTX | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/UziuPxa3aA
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) July 28, 2021
The track posted numerous videos and photographs of the testing, including a minute-long video of Justin Allgaier and David Ragan making laps around Texas Motor Speedway in their Chevrolet and Ford branded machines. Missing from social media coverage, is the Toyota Camry model and driver Drew Herring, after comment from Denny Hamlin on social media has given reason to believe there was a mishap for the manufacturer on the first day of the test (Tuesday).
I’m not grammar police. I’m speaking in past tense of the TRD car. RIP
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 28, 2021
FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass received confirmation of an ‘issue’ from a spokesperson at Toyota, saying “there was an issue with our car yesterday at testing in Texas”, without providing any additional details. Pockrass continues by saying, the OEM’s statement, alongside Hamlin’s Tweet, leads him to believe that the car was involved in an accident.
I asked Toyota if its Next Gen car crashed & response I got was "there was an issue with our car yesterday at testing in Texas" and no additional details. So I'd say that & this tweet indicates it did (& Herring is OK, wouldn't be first driver to hit PJ1 & crash on own at Texas). https://t.co/Du0PY4G9fj
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 28, 2021
No parties directly involved in Tuesday’s Next Gen test have confirmed that the indicated ‘issue’ was the result of an accident.
