Denny Hamlin has never held back when expressing his annoyance, and the race in Martinsville last year was no different. The three-time track winner and veteran of Joe Gibbs Racing blasted NASCAR’s short-track product as he left the race. Hamlin wasn’t persuaded, even though many saw the Virginia paperclip as an upgrade over other Next Gen races. Following the Cook Out 400 in April of last year, Hamlin blasted on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, saying, “We can’t just continue to ignore the short tracks.” He maintained that thrilling racing had suffered as a result of NASCAR’s pursuit of parity. Nobody will be able to get through.
It took him 400 F—— laps, you Twitter trolls who tell me, “Well, William Byron passed.” He was obviously frustrated because Martinsville, which was once the center of NASCAR’s short track package, had devolved into a follow-the-leader competition. For years, NASCAR has been making adjustments to its short-track package, but the racing stayed the same. Hamlin advocated for a significant revamp, proposing significant adjustments to tire degradation and horsepower. Even though NASCAR’s race at Martinsville this year is just one week away, the controversy continues. Drivers are still divided about NASCAR’s introduction of the softer “option” tire. In the midst of all the discussion, Chase Elliott has rendered a straightforward decision.
Notably, NASCAR used to rely heavily on small tracks for its high-intensity, door-to-door competitions. However, they have had difficulties in the Next Gen period. Because of the strictly regulated cars and low tire wear, passing has become challenging, resulting in races where track position is more important than raw speed. In Martinsville’s Next-Gen races, drivers have held the lead for extended periods of time before a caution flag or pit strategy turned the tide, leaving little room for passing. In order to combat this, NASCAR and Goodyear have collaborated to build an optional tire that promotes tire strategy-driven racing and wears more quickly.
The NASCAR garages are still split in spite of the attempts. Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series winner and seven-time Most Popular Driver, is the most recent to comment on this controversy. Elliott acknowledged, “It seems like it’s better, for sure,” in response to a question concerning the adjustments before Martinsville. Additionally, the tire appears to be a contributing factor in its size. Perhaps we have a clue there. Elliott, however, was direct when questioned about the controversy surrounding the use of option tires for the duration of the race. He declared, “I don’t care.” In sharp contrast to some seasoned drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, he responded dismissively. They want NASCAR to find a way to make the faster car win.
Hamlin had acknowledged it more than once. “I don’t want tire selections. Hamlin once remarked, “It’s just another way that the best car won’t win.” However, in contrast to his remarks, NASCAR’s recent endeavors at Phoenix Raceway had in some manner been successful. Goodyear’s softer compound in Phoenix produced an exciting race with continuous field movement. In just 11 laps, drivers such as Ryan Preece went from 33rd to 10th. Christopher Bell defeated Hamlin by a mere 0.049 seconds because to his late-race tactics. The choice tire is revolutionary to some. “If NASCAR and the fans didn’t like it, I don’t know what they would like because they were amazing,” Daniel Suarez said in his assessment of the new tire following the 2024 race in Richmond.
The tire problem caused division in the NASCAR garage
The NASCAR community has been divided in half since the option tire was introduced, regardless of the outcome. While some drivers think it’s only a short-term solution, others, like Chase Elliott, see it as a positive step. It’s not just Denny Hamlin who believes that racing hasn’t gotten any better. Two-time cup series champion Kyle Busch shared Hamlin’s pessimism. “Racing is no better at short tracks,” The Rowdy said ahead of the Homestead-Miami event. “No, the following generation hasn’t improved racing at short tracks at all. I’m not sure why that is. We have experimented with various tires and aero kits. I believe it’s just because everyone is the same and that all the bits and components are comparable.
Therefore, there is only one way to skin the cat once everyone has determined the optimum method, Busch informed Frontstrech. He said that even with the new tires, the top teams continue to dominate and that parity has made passing more difficult. In the meanwhile, mid-pack teams and younger drivers view the tire as an opportunity to change things up. After finishing in the top ten at Phoenix, Zane Smith remarked, “These tires are a lot of fun.” There is a clear divide: some people welcome the challenge, while others believe NASCAR is over-tinkering with tradition. Everyone’s attention will be on the option tire’s performance as Martinsville draws near.
