NASCAR and Goodyear baffled by Bristol tire put on points

Though Goodyear introduced the identical tire mixture as was utilized in final September’s race on the monitor, it grew to become clear early within the race the tire fall-off was laying no rubber on the monitor, which resulted in unusually extreme tire put on.

Groups shortly found they couldn’t go greater than 47 to 50 laps earlier than they risked a tire cording to the purpose of shedding air strain.

To assist handle the difficulty, NASCAR allowed Goodyear to supply groups with one further set of tires through the race however that also prompted massive modifications to the tempo of the race and pit technique.

“We’re attempting to grasp what’s completely different, why the monitor is behaving in a different way than a yr in the past,” Goodyear racing director Greg Stucker stated throughout an look within the infield media middle late within the race.

“It’s the identical bundle. It’s the identical tire mixture. It’s nonetheless a little bit of an unknown.”

Temperatures in Sunday’s race weren’t greater than 10 levels or so completely different than final September. The one identified change was the usage of traction resin within the bottoms of the turns relatively than PJ1.

Nevertheless, a visible examination of the monitor floor after the race confirmed no areas of rubbering in on the concrete floor, on the realm lined by resin or off. In reality, aside from the marbles of used tire, it was arduous to discern a race had taken place on the monitor in any respect.

The tire dialog required to handle the race helped produce a report 54 lead modifications amongst 16 drivers. However the tire points additionally contributed to a number of of the 9 cautions that spanned 98 laps.

It in all probability offered no shock that the game’s most veteran drivers completed 1-2-3 with Denny Hamlin taking the win, adopted by Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski.

“Tire put on is at all times the aim,” Stucker stated. “That’s what folks need to see. It creates comers and goers. Clearly, one thing is completely different now. It’s too drastic.”

Stucker stated he anticipated that a further tire take a look at can be wanted on the monitor previous to the sequence’ return this fall. NASCAR, nevertheless, wasn’t so certain a lot – if something – wanted to vary.

“All in all, I believed it was top-of-the-line short-track races I’ve ever seen,” stated NASCAR’s Chief Racing Improvement Officer John Probst. “We’ll return and have a look at all of it.

“There have been instances within the race clearly when there was nervousness round are we going to have sufficient tires to complete it. However, man, popping out on the finish and watching all that, I might not need to change a lot in any respect actually.

“Perhaps simply give them extra tires.”