“Why Mess With Things?” – NASCAR Fans Agree With Denny Hamlin About ‘Freight Train’ Racing at Phoenix

Published 03/16/2022, 10:07 AM EDT

After the NASCAR Cup race at the Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin was not particularly happy. He was quite mad about how the track had a grip on only one lane, because of the ‘sticky stuff’, as he put it. As a result of this decision from NASCAR, the race at Phoenix often saw cars one behind the other, like a ‘freight train’.

The sticky stuff made it a one lane track. Phx is better then that when it’s not a freight train around the top. https://t.co/cOFAu3733o
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 15, 2022

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As it turned out, many fans agreed with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. Some felt that the tyres did a far better job of keeping the racing exciting. According to one response, “I wish NASCAR would stop putting “that sticky stuff” on tracks! Why mess with things? If a team can’t figure out how to run the tracks AS THEY ARE, then too bad for them….. Real Champions will adapt, overcome and conquer!”

The tire did more to make it one groove than the sticky stuff. The sport should be kicking itself for wasting the previous twenty one years not running more tire footprint
— Michael Daly (@Michael95494331) March 15, 2022

NASCAR shouldn’t go to a track that needs a compound to “improve” racing
— Jared Wishon (@JWishon22) March 15, 2022

Soften the tire up and you won't need to prep the damn track. Make managing tire wear an important part of racing again.
— Todd Grinolds (@ToddGrinolds) March 15, 2022

Please tell NASCAR to stop putting the sticky stuff on tracks, thx
— Jon Iaccino (@ji711) March 15, 2022

In totality, the consensus was that the track did not need a traction compound. In fact, teams were perfectly alright with how the Phoenix Raceway was in 2017, where multiple lanes were in use.

Meanwhile, there were many who were mad that, even though drivers have been raising the issue, they have been ignored.

How else did fans back up Denny Hamlin?

Some fans reminisced about the 2017 and 2018 Cup races and praised the level of racing. On that occasion, there was a thrilling battle for the race lead between Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch. Each of them used different lanes. There was no need for the ‘sticky stuff’ to enhance racing. Ever since NASCAR started using the PJ1 compound or resin, the racing has declined.

Was thinking the same thing. Track doesn’t need the traction compound. In fall 2017 the track raced really well with multiple lines, and there was none of that stuff on it.
— Mike Barbone (@Barbone191T) March 15, 2022

When drivers say things like this? Is there a reason they just blatantly ignore what the drivers think and still lay that sticky stuff down?
— ll Ry Bread ll (@RClark1022) March 15, 2022

FINALLY SOMEONE SAID IT
— Justin Champagne (@ChampagneRacin) March 15, 2022

Amen! The only track that the resin does good for is Bristol.
— Cory Icenhour (@CoryIcenhour) March 15, 2022

There were a fair number of people who suggested that it was better to see how the cars performed without the ‘sticky stuff’. As per some observations, NASCAR assumed that the Next Gen cars would perform like the Gen 6 car on certain tracks. As a result, they tried to artificially enhance the racing.

Glad a driver finally came out and said it. The fans have been saying this since after the first race with this stuff on track. The racing at phoenix was fine and then they put a garbage package on track with no chance of passing and thought the track was the problem.
— Eric Britz (@ebritz9) March 15, 2022

@NASCAR has done good with the new car so far. Now they just need to work on being less gimmicky with all these tracks. Let the drivers shine without gripping up the tracks, the fans will respond in a positive light.
— Brian Macklin (@BvMacAttack) March 15, 2022

I cant even remember why they started putting it down in the first place. The 2018 races were great
— dua lipa also stole my music too as well (@squidgameobama) March 15, 2022

Does nascar even account for driver input when deciding on using PJ1 (or what ever the sticky stuff is called now)
— Andrew Roles (@aroles02) March 15, 2022

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Denny it kills me that they say they put it down for better racing, but it makes the top lane to op. Why do they keep doing it? It’s like they are intentionally fucking with us.
— HawyeeWX (@Hawyeee04) March 15, 2022

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Owing to NASCAR’s tampering with the Phoenix Raceway surface, the bottom became obsolete. In past races, drivers had the freedom to use multiple different lines without it being a disadvantage. However, the new changes have made the top lane very overpowered.

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Written by:

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.

Edited by:

Vibhanshu Kumar