The 2022 introduction of the NASCAR Next Gen car promised closer competition, but on the tight, short‑track ovals and technical road courses the new aerodynamic package has proved stubbornly resistant to passing.
Drivers find themselves locked into a narrow window of yaw angle, where the amount of side‑force generated by the rear wing and the front splitter no longer translates into a clean slipstream. The result is a car that clings to the pavement but offers little room to move around an opponent.
The aerodynamic bottleneck on short tracks
NASCAR’s technical director has repeatedly highlighted the difficulty of generating sufficient downforce without sacrificing straight‑line speed, a trade‑off that becomes acute on tracks under a mile in length. Engineers are experimenting with revised rear‑wing angles and additional rear‑end aerodynamic devices, yet the fundamental physics of the package limit overtaking opportunities.
For fans, the effect is a race that often settles into a single‑file procession, especially during the early stages when tire wear is minimal and the aerodynamic balance is most sensitive. The challenge is not just mechanical; it reshapes strategy, forcing crews to seek alternative ways to gain track position, such as pit‑road timing or aggressive restart tactics.
A mechanic’s journey from Sarajevo to the IMSA garage
Bozidar Tatarević, known in the paddock as Bozi, was born in Sarajevo in 1986 and arrived in the United States in 1995 with his family. Growing up in a household that valued both engineering and motorsport, he spent his teenage years devouring technical manuals and watching local racing events.
After a layoff from a tech job in 2008, Bozi turned his lifelong passion for cars into a full‑time pursuit, launching a small shop and a car‑export business with his family’s support. His early online posts on a technical message board caught the eye of editors at The Truth About Cars, opening the door to a writing career that would span publications such as Motorsport.com, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering.
Bozi’s first professional mechanic role arrived in 2018 at the prestigious Watkins Glen road course, where he assisted with setup and data acquisition for a Grand Touring team. The experience cemented his reputation as a hands‑on problem solver, and his growing network soon led to consulting gigs across the racing ecosystem.
Today Bozi works as a tire carrier and mechanic for Vasser Sullivan Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, a role that blends pit‑lane precision with deep technical insight. His contributions helped the team secure a 2023 GTD Pro title, adding a championship credential to a résumé that already includes ten race victories.
Beyond the track, Bozi runs an agency called Podium Prime, offering consulting services to race teams, media producers and sponsors. His client list ranges from grassroots endurance programs to high‑profile broadcast productions, reflecting a versatility that mirrors his own career path — one that bridges engineering, writing and on‑track execution.