Denny Hamlin criticizes Goodyear tire compound after Nashville race, expressing frustration over the lackluster action witnessed during the recent NASCAR Cup Series event at Nashville Superspeedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, known for his candid feedback, pinpointed the tires as a primary factor hindering the excitement typically expected from a race of this caliber.
Hamlin Voices Concerns Over Nashville Race Quality
The NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Nashville Superspeedway saw veteran Denny Hamlin taking issue with Goodyear’s tire selection, attributing the diminished on-track drama and minimal lead changes to the tire compound’s characteristics. Hamlin has made it clear that he believes Goodyear must revisit its approach to choosing compounds in order to restore compelling competition and keep fans engaged.
Lack of Tire Fall-Off Impacts On-Track Action
During his latest Actions Detrimental podcast episode, Hamlin laid out his primary concern: an absence of tire fall-off throughout each stage, which he believes sapped much of the excitement from the event.
“The first part of the race, the racing was good,”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
He described how the tires maintained their grip for too long, eliminating much of the challenge and unpredictability that contributes to overtaking and high-stakes moments mid-race. Hamlin explained,
“I don’t know what was up with the tire that I mean we just had no fall-off whatsoever. You could run your fastest lap on Lap 15 or something.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Within NASCAR, tire fall-off refers to the steady degradation that makes cars harder to handle and naturally widens the performance gap between drivers, thus increasing opportunities for mistakes and passes. When this element is missing, the pace remains too consistent, limiting the drama and strategy that define stock car racing.
Calls for Softer Compound and Tire Adaptation
Hamlin continued his critique, imploring Goodyear to adjust their compounds to better suit Nashville’s track surface and enhance the racing quality witnessed by fans. He stressed the need for changes that would inject more grip and encourage early and frequent tire degradation.
“We’ve got to put more grip or a softer compound at that racetrack to get some fall-off,”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
He argued that the scarcity of passing in the final laps diminished the overall spectacle.
“That’s why the racing was so good at the end of the stages. So I think people are going to view this race maybe critically because once we got to the last 80-90 laps, I mean, there just wasn’t much passing.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Tire Performance Shaped the Race’s Destiny
According to Hamlin, meaningful competition and position changes barely occurred until tires experienced significant wear, well past the halfway mark of each fuel run. The driver reflected on the limited action during much of the event, noting an uptick only in the later stages.
“There was not much passing until 50 laps into a run, that’s when we got to the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2,”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Detailing the specifics, Hamlin recalled a battle featuring himself along with other top contenders, which only developed after a long stint on the same set of tires.
“That’s when there was actually a battle between me, the 12, the 24, and the 45… It took 60 laps on tires for them to actually start falling off.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Suggestions for Improving Future Races
Hamlin wrapped up his thoughts by pushing for tire development that better matches the demands of tracks like Nashville Superspeedway. He highlighted the necessity for more rapidly degrading tires, not just for the ends of stages, but throughout the duration of each racing segment.
“We need that process to happen sooner, so we have that racing for the entire run, not just at the very, very end, right before we are about to stop.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
The discussion initiated by Hamlin points to ongoing tension between drivers, tire suppliers like Goodyear, and NASCAR officials as they seek to balance safety, strategy, and entertainment value. As Goodyear evaluates its compounds and NASCAR weighs driver feedback, the focus remains on crafting races that test skill and maximize excitement for fans at tracks such as Nashville. With industry insiders also debating the role of tire compounds in shaping Cup Series races, further developments are likely in future events.
