Denny Hamlin warns Bristol tire chaos could erupt during the upcoming Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, as NASCAR and Goodyear introduce a dramatically softer tire compound for Saturday night’s highly awaited race. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver voiced strong concerns about Goodyear’s tire strategy, predicting the new compound may result in an unpredictable and tumultuous event.
Goodyear’s Tire Strategy Sparks Concern Among Drivers
Goodyear has announced that NASCAR Cup Series teams will run a newly formulated, softer right-side tire in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, scheduled for September 13 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mark Keto, Goodyear’s Senior Project Manager for NASCAR, stated that this change aims to inject greater tire wear and management into race tactics, potentially increasing excitement on the track.
“Usually in the fall race, we see higher track temps than in the spring, and the cars put more rubber down,”
—Mark Keto, Goodyear Senior Project Manager
Keto further explained that the softer tire is designed to generate more treadwear on Bristol’s typically rubbered-in concrete surface, especially as weather conditions shift during the night race. The move intends to strike a balance for both teams and drivers tackling Bristol’s notoriously unforgiving layout. However, Hamlin remains skeptical of whether these changes will lead to improved racing or outright chaos.
Denny Hamlin Details Worrying Results from Tire Testing
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin shared his alarm after hearing about a recent Goodyear tire durability test gone wrong. He highlighted a specific incident suggesting the new right-side tire might be too soft for Bristol’s demands.
“They have this machine, apparently, like it’s sandpaper. There’s a tire that goes into this and like checks the wear, how does this tire going to wear under certain load?”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
“And apparently, they put on the Bristol right side tire, and it shredded into the machine immediately.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
According to Hamlin, the tire’s wear rate in testing was so severe that it caused the test equipment to fail, which raised immediate red flags about whether these tires will hold up for a full race distance. Outside observers, like Steven Taranto, also took note of Hamlin’s comments, highlighting just how aggressive the tire’s falloff appeared to be under load.
“It was so aggressive that it destroyed the machine, like it just unraveled and got caught in the machine.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Goodyear responded by attributing the problem to the specific tire being tested—explaining that the product had not been given enough time after manufacturing to stabilize before testing. According to the company, that may have led to the unexpected shredding, rather than indicating a broader safety or performance issue with the right-side tire for Bristol.
Uncertainty and Anticipation Build for Saturday’s Night Race
Despite Goodyear’s assurances, Hamlin appeared to embrace the unknown, suggesting that the race could turn erratic and force teams into unpredictable strategic territory. He made clear his expectation that tire management will become an even greater challenge under the current plan.
“I’m all for Team Chaos this week,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
“I hope we can’t even run 50 laps, I just hope they have enough tires is gonna be my thing.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
As anticipation builds ahead of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, drivers like Hamlin, tire manufacturers such as Goodyear, and fans alike find themselves on edge, waiting to see whether the tire choice sparks thrilling strategy or widespread mayhem on Bristol’s concrete short track. The fate of Goodyear’s tire gamble—and the unpredictability it may unleash—will become clear once the green flag drops this Saturday.
