Since NASCAR rolled out the Next Gen car, drivers have often said their abilities have been minimized. A driver’s talent was no longer the difference between winning and losing.
Recently at Bristol Motor Speedway’s annual Spring Cup Series race it was a throwback to a time when a driver’s skill set could be showcased to its fullest. Excessive wear forced drivers to manage their tires to such a degree they could rarely race all out, lest they risk a flat, creating a delicate balance where drivers had to pick and choose when to push.
Many pushed too hard, and they suffered the consequences. Others, like race winner Denny Hamlin, thrived, with the veteran at times conceding spots to competitors, knowing it was in his best interests to hold back. It’s why this victory, the 52nd of his career, resonated more than others since the advent of the Next Gen car for the 2022 season.
“This is the first time the driver played a huge role in a long, long time. Long time,” Hamlin said. “It’s a different philosophy from what we’re used to, which is everyone is just kind of on the gas all the time, running the bottom, the shortest way around. Technique was a huge deal today.
“I know I had such a huge role in the result. If the car was not good, I wasn’t going to win. But I feel like I played a huge factor in the result. It’s really a proud one for me. Certainly, one of the more proud ones I’ve had in my career, no question.”
“It was more in our hands than probably ever has been,” said Chase Elliott, who finished eighth. “I don’t know if you want that every week, but it was really fun and refreshing. It was kind of cool that you could kill your tires if you weren’t smart about it and you could make them last if you were.”
Throughout the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted messages on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about how what he was watching resembled so many from years past where drivers had to manage their tires, rewarding those who could do it best. In many recent races, drivers have been able to run flat-out with little worry about tire wear.
“Hundred (laps) to go. Most entertaining short track race we have had with the Next Gen,” Earnhardt posted.
And the statistics backed up the claim that Bristol hosted a classic. The lead changed hands 54 times, a track record. And 16 different drivers led, also a track-best.
“I think it was probably one of the best short track races I’ve ever seen,” NASCAR chief racing development officer John Probst said afterward.
Fifth-place finisher Kyle Larson said while there were elements he enjoyed, like the 50-lap window or having to slow down to such a significant degree to conserve tires, this form of racing is not something he’d want to do every week. Elliott echoed those comments, saying that while tire wear is a good thing, “there’s probably a little better balance somewhere there.”
Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney offered a more pointed review.
“No, I didn’t have fun,” said Blaney, who finished 16th. “I mean, what’s fun about riding around, creeping around, can’t run 50 laps unless you blow a tire? You got guys with blown stuff creeping around the racetrack.
Going into the race, most expected tire wear to be a factor after potential issues became apparent in Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions. But no one, from NASCAR to tire manufacturer Goodyear to drivers to crew chiefs, seemed to have a clear idea why this race unfolded this way.
“We put as much science to it as we can possibly put to it,” Probst said. “But at the end of the day, right? You got so many factors and variables that go into it. We’ll just have to look at it.”
One notable difference between this weekend and last September, when NASCAR previously raced at Bristol, was how the track was treated in an attempt to improve grip. In the fall, officials added PJ1 traction compound whereas this weekend resin was used in case NASCAR had to race in damp conditions. During a tire test earlier this year, it was discovered that PJ1 wasn’t effective on a wet track, as it actually made it slicker
Could this be the catalyst for what was an entertaining race even despite a similar tire compound to last fall’s race?
“Obviously, the difference is resin was placed on the lower groove instead of the PJ1. Yet I still think the racetrack should be taking rubber as it did last year. It took rubber immediately during that race.”
Whatever the reason, the result was a record-breaking race vastly different from most other short-track races during the Next Gen era. This one offered more passing, greater driver influence and did away with the tedious conversation about potential fixes to enhance the on-track product.
“This is supposed to be a sport,” said Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s crew chief. “It’s supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to force these guys to make decisions in the car. Do I go now? Do I not?”
As a fan, I have to say I enjoyed the race.
The drivers listed as taking part make this well worth the trip. It is an opportunity to see many of the greatest all in one trip. At least that is my thinking. Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) and Lime Rock Park have announced the SpeedTour All-Star Race, which will bring together an unprecedented gathering of motorsports legends to race at the historic Connecticut circuit, July 19-20. Gathering icons from Formula 1, NASCAR, INDYCAR and IMSA, the SpeedTour All-Star Race will pair all-star drivers with competitors from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series to compete as co-drivers in a 60-minute race that will air live on MAVTV.
With 16 legends already committed to race, the field includes Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 champions, IROC winners and drivers who have stood atop the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Daytona. The field represents nearly 6,000 NASCAR starts, 47 Indianapolis 500 starts, 50 F1 starts, 88 IROC starts, seven Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, four 24 Hours of Le Mans wins and two 24 Hours of Nürburgring triumphs. In total, they’re responsible for eight NASCAR championships, an INDYCAR championship, 11 road racing championships, an IROC champion, three USAC championships and four Rallycross championships.
Greg Biffle – 2004 Daytona 500 Pole winner, 2002 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion
Geoff Brabham – Four-time IMSA GTP Champion, 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, 1981 Can-Am Champion, 1997 Bathurst 1000 winner, 10 Indianapolis 500 starts, two-time IROC winner
Ron Fellows – Three-time American Le Mans Series Champion, 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, 20 Trans Am Series race wins
Davey Hamilton – Two-time INDYCAR Vice Champion, 11-time Indianapolis 500 starter
Ron Hornaday – 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, four-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion
Davy Jones – 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, 1990 Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, five-time Indianapolis 500 starter
Bobby Labonte – 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, 1991 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, 2001 IROC Series Champion
Pippa Mann – 2021 24 Hours of Nürburgring winner, seven-time Indianapolis 500 starter
Paul Menard – 2011 Brickyard 400 winner, two-time Trans Am Series race winner
Ryan Newman – 2008 Daytona 500 winner, 2014 Brickyard 400 winner, 1999 USAC Silver Crown Series Champion, 2023 SRX Champion
Max Papis – 2004 Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype Champion, two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, five 24 Hours of Le Mans podiums, seven F1 starts
Boris Said – 2004 Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series GT Champion, two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, 2005 24 Hours of Nürburgring winner, 2002 Trans Am TA Champion, 100+ Trans Am starts (18 wins)
Ken Schrader – Two-time USAC Champion, 984 starts in NASCAR’s top-three series, four NASCAR Cup Series wins, 18 ARCA wins
Mike Skinner – 1995 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, 1997 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of The Year, 1997 Daytona 500 Pole winner
Scott Speed – 28 F1 starts (including a top-10 finish at Monaco), four-time Rallycross Champion, three-time X Games Gold Medalist
Danny Sullivan – 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner, 1988 CART Champion, 1998 Rolex 24 at Daytona class winner, 15 F1 starts (including a top-five finish at Monaco)
Combining legendary all-star drivers with today’s stars of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, the duos will team up in the TA2 spec racecars for a 60-minute race. The all-star driver will qualify and start the race before a mid-race five-minute pit stop allows for a driver change, giving the wheel to today’s TA2 Series star. All cars will pass through standard tech to ensure a fair playing field in the spec racecar. Drivers will not only be racing for a trophy, as a $50,000 winner-takes-all prize will also be on the line for the race-winning team.
The action starts Friday, July 19, with all-star drivers taking to the track for a 30-minute practice session, followed by qualifying that afternoon. Saturday, July 20, will be all about the fans, as drivers will participate in a group autograph session at 10 a.m. ET, followed by a fan walk and pre-race ceremonies on pit road at 12 p.m. ET. The SpeedTour All-Star Race will go green at 12:30 p.m. ET.
In addition to the SpeedTour All-Star race, the two-day event will include racing from Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook (PSSA), Canada’s Nissan Sentra Cup, and F1600 Canada.
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Ernie Saxton is an auto racing contributor for MediaNews Group. He co-founded the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, served as public relations director for Grandview Speedway for 47 years, and is in multiple halls of fame for his promotion and journalism related to the sport. He has announced races at more than 100 tracks, and he is the only person to have announced a race at Madison Square Garden. Email him at ESaxton144@aol.com.
