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NASCAR Community Split: Chase Elliott’s Indifference vs Denny Hamlin’s Tire Changes Discontent Ahead of Martinsville Showdown

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 23, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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NASCAR Community Split: Chase Elliott’s Indifference vs Denny Hamlin’s Tire Changes Discontent Ahead of Martinsville Showdown

Mar 16, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin, a seasoned veteran of the Joe Gibbs Racing team and a three-time champion at the Martinsville track, has never been one to hold back his feelings. Last year’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville saw him openly express his dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s short-track product. Even though many perceived an improvement in the Next Gen-era races, Hamlin was far from impressed.

Hamlin voiced his concerns on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, arguing that NASCAR’s pursuit of parity has led to predictable, less thrilling races. He highlighted the difficulty drivers face in overtaking, a sentiment that he feels is shared with the Twitter community. Hamlin feels that the Martinsville race, once the lifeblood of NASCAR’s short-track package, has devolved into a procession.

For years, NASCAR has attempted to fine-tune its short-track package, yet the excitement of the races has remained stilted. Hamlin proposed a transformative revamp, including radical alterations in horsepower and tire degradation. As NASCAR draws closer to this year’s Martinsville showdown, the controversy continues. The introduction of a softer “option” tire by NASCAR has divided the drivers’ community. Amidst this ongoing debate, Chase Elliott, the seven-time Most Popular Driver and 2020 Cup Series champion, has offered a straightforward opinion on the matter.

Short tracks were once the lifeblood of NASCAR, showcasing fierce, side-by-side battles. However, in the Next Gen era, these tracks have struggled to maintain their former glory. The heavily regulated cars and limited tire wear have made overtaking a challenge, leading to races where strategy trumps sheer speed. NASCAR’s response to this issue has been to collaborate with Goodyear to develop a new option tire, designed to wear faster and introduce a tire strategy element to the races.

Despite these efforts, the NASCAR garages are split. When queried about the changes ahead of Martinsville, Elliott acknowledged that the situation seemed to be improving, largely due to the new tire. However, his response to the question of using the option tires for an entire race was decidedly indifferent: “I don’t care,” he remarked.

His casual response stands in stark contrast to the passionate opinions of veteran drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. They are pushing for a solution that ensures the fastest cars take the victory. Hamlin has expressed this sentiment numerous times, stating, “I don’t want options for tires. It’s just another way that the best car won’t win.”

But it seems NASCAR’s recent efforts at Phoenix Raceway are bearing fruit. The softer compound created by Goodyear resulted in an exhilarating race with constant changes in positions. The slim 0.049-second victory by Christopher Bell over Hamlin, thanks to a well-timed strategy, seemed to validate the use of the option tire.

However, the community remains divided. While drivers like Elliott view the option tire as a positive development, others dismiss it as a temporary fix. Kyle Busch, a two-time cup series champion, shares Hamlin’s skepticism. He believes that the similarity in equipment among all teams has made overtaking more difficult, even with the introduction of the new tires.

On the flip side, younger drivers and mid-tier teams see this new tire as an opportunity to disrupt the status quo. The upcoming Martinsville race will be closely watched, with everyone eager to see how the option tire performs. Will it generate a Phoenix-style spectacle? Or will it be another failed attempt at injecting excitement back into short-track racing? Only time will tell.

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