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Greg Stucker acknowledged that tire wear is a good thing in a NASCAR race, but the amount seen Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway was unexpected and too much. “I would agree [that] tire wear is alway…
Greg Stucker, the Goodyear director of racing, acknowledged that tire wear is essential in a NASCAR race, but the excessive tire wear at Bristol Motor Speedway during the Food City 500 was unexpected and too drastic. The high tire wear and cording forced drivers to slow down and conserve rubber, ultimately leading to NASCAR allowing an extra set of tires early in the second stage. Despite testing tire packages to generate more wear last year, the extreme cording was a result of the track not taking rubber effectively this time around. Goodyear brought the same tire codes used previously, but the track’s behavior confused both teams and NASCAR, prompting the need for further analysis and adjustments. The resin application on the lower groove intended to balance the racetrack’s dominance but seemed ineffective in promoting tire adhesion, posing a challenge for all teams involved.