The story that started last year in December is climaxing at this time. In December, NASCAR officials conducted a short-track test session with six teams. Having six Cup teams over to participate, the executives hoped to work on four areas- aero, gearbox, design, and tires. As it turns out, only one factor is reigning supreme in drivers’ minds right now.

After the iconic tire management race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the high-wear tires enthralled drivers. Although Team Penske driver Joey Logano finished 22nd, he acknowledged the superiority of that race. But tires failed to leave a mark in Richmond and Martinsville. Now Logano and other drivers are apprehensive about NASCAR’s plans in Texas.

Joey Logano harbors doubts over new plans

The spectacular race that Goodyear’s tires afforded at Bristol boggled many people’s minds. It was the only memorable short-track race. But fast forward to the next races, the same effect was not visible anymore. Joey Logano emphasized the same after Martinsville.

“The last 20 laps, the left rear started coming apart, but it wasn’t because it wore off. The wear pins were still there. It started delaminating like the tread started coming off. It didn’t wear down to the cords. The tire was fine outside of it chunking apart. That’s not okay.”

Now that the Texas race is looming on the horizon, officials are working on their strategy. But drivers are not too sure, as they discussed in a meeting recently held. The topics included the short-track package and significantly the next step with tires in light of the upcoming Texas race. 

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin outlined the points in the discussion but capped it off with a slice of doubt. “We’re just trying to get them to be as aggressive as they can. You know, especially with left-side tires. This car doesn’t load the tires as much as the old car did. They’re into unchartered territory here as far as the compounds…it’s still got tons of room to go.”

Then Joey Logano chipped in with his own take, spilling forth his uncertainty. “It’s a pretty expensive change. You know, there’s a groove in the tires or something like that, but we’re accomplishing the same thing with the same type of wheel, maybe that’s an option. But I can’t say in the near future at the moment.”

However, it seems like NASCAR officials are working to change the narrative on a war footing.

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Tires are in sharper focus now than ever

The Bristol miracle spun off a flurry of speculation among drivers and officials alike. NASCAR and Goodyear people investigated further into why tire wear increased at that venue, and the research is ongoing. The successful use of the wet-weather tires at Richmond Raceway also brought more limelight to tires. So NASCAR officials are working round the clock to make the tires work to their advantage.

Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior VP of competition, laid out after Martinsville: “We, as NASCAR, want our short-track package to be better. We want that racing to be at the level that superspeedways and our intermediate race tracks are today. I promise you, we are working as hard as we can with Goodyear and we need to work harder.” He further said: “The tires, and the way they wear, and the way the drivers had to manage that tire wear and the tire fall-off is really what we’re trying to achieve.”

Hopefully, we will be able to see a replay of Bristol’s events on more tracks this year.