Denny Hamlin, the veteran driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, has once again taken aim at Goodyear and the tires being used in the NASCAR Cup Series, voicing frustration over the lackluster performance of the rubber in short track racing. As the playoffs heat up, Hamlin’s blunt comments have reignited debate over whether NASCAR is doing enough to address the ongoing issues with the Next-Gen car and its tires.
NASCAR introduced the Next-Gen car in 2022 with the goal of leveling the playing field and reducing costs. While the car has succeeded in creating closer competition, it has come at the cost of delivering a quality racing product on short tracks—something fans and drivers alike have voiced concerns over. The combination of the 7th Gen car and Goodyear tires has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations on these tracks, where close-quarters racing has always been a fan favorite.
Despite multiple tweaks and adjustments by both NASCAR and Goodyear, improvements have been minimal. A notable exception was the Bristol race earlier this season, which saw a brief resurgence in competitive racing. However, both NASCAR and Goodyear have struggled to pinpoint what exactly worked at Bristol, leaving the race as a one-off, rather than a sign of sustained progress.
In his latest critique, Hamlin did not hold back, calling the tire manufacturing process “imperfect” and accusing Goodyear of tolerating a wide range of inconsistencies.
“It’s a very imperfect process and they have tolerances. You know, even when they make these tires, they have tolerances that, ‘We’re okay with this tire coming out being x-amount harder than what it’s supposed to be or x-amount softer than what it’s supposed to be,’” Hamlin remarked.
Hamlin’s comments hint at a broader issue within NASCAR’s approach to short track racing, implying that there’s a lack of urgency from the top to address the tire problems that have plagued the series for the past two seasons. He stressed that for NASCAR to deliver the kind of exciting, action-packed racing fans crave, significant changes need to be made.
Denny Hamlin entered the 2024 playoffs as one of the top contenders for the championship, thanks to an impressive regular season that saw him notch up three wins. However, the unpredictable nature of the playoff schedule, which included four wildcard races, derailed his momentum. Hamlin, in particular, struggled on road courses—tracks he has admittedly never excelled at.
“So yeah, this schedule never really suited me or my skill set. I’m not great on road courses, I need to get better at them, I’m trying, but I’m also 43 years old. There’s a point where there’s diminishing returns on the time and effort that I spend to try and get better at road courses,” Hamlin candidly admitted.
Despite the struggles, Hamlin has four more races to prove his mettle as the season winds down. The good news for the No. 11 team? All remaining races are on short tracks, where Hamlin has historically thrived. With the right execution and a bit of luck, Hamlin could still be in contention for his long-awaited Cup championship.
As the NASCAR world watches the final races of the season, Hamlin’s critique of Goodyear serves as a reminder that despite the advancements made in certain areas, the sport still has work to do—particularly if it wants to restore the excitement of short track racing. If Hamlin can capitalize on the remaining opportunities, 2024 could still be his year to finally secure that elusive title. But for now, the focus remains on addressing the glaring issues that continue to frustrate both drivers and fans.
