Denny Hamlin has long been an advocate for improving NASCAR’s racing dynamics, often discussing various aspects of the sport. Everyone is well aware of his gripe with Next-Gen cars on superspeedways and how they go against the nature of the draft. However, Hamlin’s insights on NASCAR’s tire policy on his podcast, “Actions Detrimental,” continue to shape discussions about the sport. And after the Phoenix race, the #11 was happy about the tires while being disappointed about his personal result.
Denny Hamlin came short at Phoenix Raceway last Sunday as his winless streak extended to 29 races. “F—“, he yelled out on his radio after a heartbreaking effort as he lost out to his own Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Christopher Bell. However, what was the most intriguing about the race was how close the finish was. The gap between Hamlin and Bell was a mere 0.049 seconds, one of the closest in the history of the track. Phoenix has long been a track where fans complained about drab and dull racing due to the Next-Gen car. So what changed? Well, it all has to do with Goodyear, and it made Hamlin incredibly happy.
Ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Goodyear announced it would be testing out their softer option tires at Phoenix Raceway this spring. This was an attempt to possibly use these as the primary tires for the Championship race in November. The results? A jaw-dropping race filled with tons of passing, tire strategies, and a thrilling finish.
Denny Hamlin shares both sides of the coin on the option tire
Denny Hamlin has long advocated for improving NASCAR’s racing dynamics, often praising Goodyear’s innovations. Recently, he highlighted the success of the option tires at Phoenix, saying, “I certainly think that we’ve got a winner.” This sentiment reflects his belief in Goodyear’s ability to elevate the sport through tire strategies. The option tire, tested at North Wilkesboro and Richmond last year, aims to increase grip and strategy on short tracks.
Hamlin emphasized the importance of tire falloff in creating engaging races. He noted that Goodyear’s softer tires have finally provided the desired level of grip and degradation, making races more competitive. “The results of the racing that we’ve seen speaks for itself,” Hamlin exclaimed. This approach aligns with NASCAR’s goal to enhance short-track racing, where drivers must manage tire wear strategically as their fuel runs out. “That’s what we want. The tires run out before the fuel.”
The option tire was initially met with mixed reactions. Its debut at North Wilkesboro was not as successful as hoped, but subsequent use at Richmond showed promise, with drivers like Daniel Suárez benefiting from strategic tire choices. The tire’s faster wear rate allows for more passing opportunities, making races more dynamic. Suarez said after the Richmond race, “That was a fun race. These option tires, if NASCAR and the fans didn’t like it, I don’t know what they would like because they were amazing.”
Denny Hamlin suggested that the option tires should become the standard for short tracks. He stated, “I think that you know certainly. I can’t think of a short track or a mile or less track that these tires couldn’t go and race at next week.” This indicates his confidence in the tires’ versatility and potential to improve racing across various tracks. Phoenix was the longest track they have tried it at so far, standing at 1 mile long, and it still worked incredibly well.
Drivers like Ryan Preece leveraged the option tires last Sunday to gain significant positions early on, only to face challenges as the tires wore out. For instance, Preece moved from 33rd to third in the first stage using these tires, showcasing how the option tires added a strategic layer to the race by allowing teams to choose when to push for speed versus conserving tires. However, this led to him missing out on them when late race cautions came into play, resulting in a 15th-place finish.
Similarly, Joey Logano was starting on the Front Row, and early in the race, he received a restart penalty for crossing track limits. He hastily acted to use the option tires, and this strategy cost him as he could not keep up with the rest of the pack toward the end of the race and finished in 13th place. However, Hamlin was particular about one thing. He didn’t want these tires to be optional. He wanted them as the primary.
“I don’t know. I’m just too old school to tell you that I want options for tires. It’s just another way that the best car will not win,” admitted Hamlin. The veteran feels that having it as an option would tip the scale in favor of drivers who are not fighting for stage wins but a better overall finish, so they would tweak their strategy as such to gain an advantage. This did show up during the race, too.
Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith notched up his first top-10 finish of the season coming in ninth, and Chris Buescher from RFK Racing finished in 5th, his first top-5 of the year. Smith said after the race, “(The option tires) are a lot of fun, and it made it probably the most fun Phoenix race I feel like I have been to.” However, Buescher agreed with Hamlin, as he said, “I am still a proponent of a single tire when we come to a weekend, but Goodyear did a great job. That red tire was a lot of fun.”
Denny Hamlin’s enthusiasm for the softer tires extends to their potential impact on future races. He urged Goodyear to use this tire strategy across other short tracks, emphasizing the need for consistent and exciting racing. This push for standardization reflects his commitment to enhancing NASCAR’s overall racing experience. If successful, the option tire could become the primary tire for the 2025 Championship Race, significantly impacting strategy and outcomes.
So what do you think? Were the option tires a success at Phoenix? Will Goodyear opt to use them for the Championship race in November? Let us know in the comments!
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