Many NASCAR drivers have recently expressed their desire for additional practice time. Leading up to the 2024 Texas Cup race, these drivers publicly requested that NASCAR extend the practice session in order to allow teams more opportunities to enhance their car development. This would have particularly benefited Jimmie Johnson, who has faced difficulties in the Next-Gen era and has struggled to perform consistently in race weeks.
A NASCAR Hall of Famer, through his podcast, has now presented a compelling argument as to why these demands should be taken into consideration. He highlighted the fact that with more practice, Jimmie Johnson could become more competitive. Additionally, he emphasized that Trackhouse Racing’s No:84 Toyota driver, alongside Johnson, also deserves additional time to improve.
Jimmie Johnson is currently facing significant challenges in the Cup series. Providing him with more practice time would greatly benefit him, as he has had to adapt his driving style to the new 7th generation cars. Extended practice sessions would offer him a fair opportunity to regain his previous success in the top tier, as he experienced during his peak years with HMS. Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) also deserves similar treatment, as he left behind a successful career in Supercars in Oceana to establish himself in the US. Junior believes that SVG should be given a fair chance and not be provided with any excuses for performing below his average level, thus warranting additional practice sessions.
In addition to advocating for Johnson and SVG, Junior has made a strong argument for part-time and upcoming drivers to receive more practice time. He believes that this is the only way for these drivers to be competitive with full-time drivers. Therefore, granting both the current Cup drivers and these aspiring talents more practice opportunities can only lead to improved performance.