Denny Hamlin praises Goodyear tires following the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte ROVAL, highlighting the tire manufacturer’s breakthrough in developing a product with significant tire fall-off. Hamlin’s acknowledgment comes amid a season where fans and competitors alike have sought more strategic and compelling racing in the Cup Series.
This weekend’s race at the ROVAL sparked mixed reactions among drivers and spectators, but Hamlin took a distinct stance, focusing on Goodyear’s renewed approach to tire design. Goodyear’s recent compound adjustments have resulted in substantial tire degradation, an outcome Hamlin feels could positively transform racing dynamics in NASCAR events.
Technological Advancements Bring Noticeable Tire Wear
Hamlin, discussing his experiences on the latest episode of “Actions Detrimental,” remarked on the technological advancements made by Goodyear. He noted that the manufacturer has altered the tire mixture in a way that encourages wear at a more pronounced rate than before. This change has made races more dynamic and forced drivers to consider tire management as a crucial strategy.
“I almost wore my Goodyear hat again,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
“I almost thought to myself, I’ll wear a Goodyear hat anytime I think they bring a tire that’s got big fall-off and things like that.”
The increased tire fall-off has been apparent during recent tire tests at multiple racetracks, including New Hampshire, where drivers noticed the rubber compound would degrade after just 20 to 25 laps.
“It’s clear through their advancements that they’ve come up with something that makes tires wear. They’ve put something in the mixture that is making tires wear,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
This shift moves away from previous beliefs that track surface primarily dictated tire degradation. Instead, Goodyear’s innovations focus on the tire makeup itself, directly influencing the racing spectacle and strategy.
Positive Reception from Drivers and the Racing Community
During tests and on race weekends, drivers consistently remarked on tire wear, echoing Hamlin’s enthusiasm for the challenge it brings.
“Every time we go to a tire test — even the last two or three tire tests at other racetracks like New Hampshire or wherever — Goodyear always brings a tire and the drivers say, ‘Man, that thing wore out in like 20 laps, 25 laps,’”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver. Hamlin noted this trend has shifted the responsibility for tire wear from the track surface to the tire’s chemical composition:
“And I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s awesome.’ So, you know, they used to say that in order to make tires wear, it’s all about the surface. Clearly, now it’s not about the surface.”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
The consistent pattern of increased tire wear has revitalized racing strategy, meeting fans’ calls for more variable and engaging races over the past few seasons. Hamlin credits Goodyear for finally discovering a sustainable formula to achieve this effect across different venues.
“I think they’ve learned enough to know that there’s something they can put in the formula of that rubber that will make it wear out — which is a great technological advancement, and it can definitely be used to optimize our racing going forward,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver. He referred to the current tire as
“kind of our standard road course tire at this point,”
praising Goodyear’s approach.
Proof from Practice and Qualifying Sessions
Hamlin emphasized the dramatic fall-off experienced during practice and qualifying at Charlotte. He observed lap times decline steadily, demonstrating the real-world impact of Goodyear’s new compound.
“I couldn’t believe it in practice,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
“I’m watching Group A and seeing the lap times, and it’s like, ‘Okay, this just dropped half a second first lap, another half, another half,’ and the line just kept going down.”
The extent of the drop-off surprised even seasoned competitors, as Hamlin recounted:
“I’m thinking, ‘Surely these guys are going to level out at some point.’ No — it was crazy to see. Like four seconds, four seconds of fall-off. It was incredible.”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
Although the tire degradation wasn’t as severe during the main event as in earlier sessions, Hamlin felt the product still marked genuine progress.
“I thought about 30 percent of the drop-off was recovered, but it was still fine,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver. He explained that the changing tire quality during the race led to shifting positions throughout the field, notably among competitors like Ross Chastain who struggled with rear tire wear.
“But yeah, I thought they did a great job. We had a great tire this week. That certainly played no factor in how compelling — or lack of compelling — the race may have been,”
Denny Hamlin, Race Car Driver.
Looking Ahead: Impact on NASCAR’s Cup Series
For Denny Hamlin, Goodyear’s innovative tire is a major storyline from the Charlotte weekend. NASCAR fans and drivers, having sought more strategic variance through tire degradation, could see this as a turning point. If Goodyear maintains this approach, races across the Cup Series may become more tactical and unpredictable, providing new challenges for crews and competitors alike.
With racers like Hamlin backing these advances, Goodyear’s newest tire may become a benchmark for road course competitions and beyond, setting the stage for more thrilling action in NASCAR’s future.
