Goodyear is debuting a new, softer option tire at North Wilkesboro. As far as Denny Hamlin is concerned, they have done their job. NASCAR needs a new tire to get the short track package to improve and it might finally be here.
Since the Bristol mishap or happy accident as I like to call it, tires have been the talk of short tracks. The tires are too hard and don’t wear down enough at a majority of short tracks now. Goodyear thinks they have the solution.
During the All-Star Race weekend, Denny Hamlin and the other NASCAR drivers will use the primary tire and the option tire. That primary tire is just what they are used to using. However, the option tire with red lettering is softer, and quicker, at least in short spurts.
Hamlin loves what he saw in practice between the two tires.
“I give Goodyear a lot of shit a lot of times but they nailed it on this one,” Hamlin said to Jamie Little of FOX Sports. “It’s just a great tire, great lap time variation between the two tires, and also just the ability to pass with it because there’s a difference in speed between the cars. So, as you’re seeing now guys are searching for new pavement to try to get grip because they don’t want to be in the rubber because it is kinda slick. Really really fun right now this is like back to the old short track days.”
Everyone wants to see short track races improve. In order to do that, lap times have to vary. Right now, lap times are too similar, there isn’t enough fall off, and drivers with clean air can do whatever they want on the track and not get passed.
Denny Hamlin got what he asked for
Of course, Denny Hamlin has been railing against this for months. If not for a full year at this point. He is a vocal drier and isn’t afraid to share his opinion, probably why he has a podcast and other drivers do not.
What happened at Bristol showed everyone that there was a better path. Horsepower would be nice. Aero changes have been beaten to death and then some. So, why not look at the tire and see what they can change?
Drivers make passes when they are able to get their car to go faster than the car in front of them. They can do that by running a faster, better line or by gaining an advantage elsewhere. Fresher, quicker tires are a key to passing, especially on short tracks.
Denny Hamlin loves what he is seeing. I think other drivers do as well. This softer tire compound is going to do a lot to make the racing product better and more improved. Let’s just hope something similar can be done at other short tracks.
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