William Byron Unleashes Frustration on Radio After Bristol Tire Disaster: “These are Sh*t!”
In a dramatic turn of events at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race held at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR star William Byron did not hold back his scathing criticism of the tires supplied by Goodyear. The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s candid radio communication during the intense race has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community, as he expressed his sheer disbelief at the tire performance, declaring, “These are sh*t; this is f*cked!”
The controversy erupted following Goodyear’s decision to provide softer right-side tires aimed at addressing the notoriously low tire falloff on the high-banked oval. However, what was intended to enhance performance quickly turned into a nightmare for drivers. Teams had previously reported impressive tire longevity during Friday’s practice, managing to stretch their stints beyond 70-80 laps. Yet, come race day, the reality was starkly different, with tire wear becoming alarmingly rapid and leaving drivers scrambling.
AJ Allmendinger, who kicked off the race from pole position, was among the first to voice his concerns, dropping out of contention just 24 laps in due to issues with his right-side tires. He was forced to pit from a disappointing 12th place to swap out his corded tires, while Ryan Blaney executed a daring two-stop strategy to secure a Stage 1 victory.
Meanwhile, Byron found himself struggling to maintain his position, slipping out of the top 10 as frustration mounted. In a gripping exchange captured on the team radio, Byron lamented, “These, these are bad. These are sh*t. I was obviously stuck up there, but these are terrible.” His crew chief, Rudy Fugle, attempted to calm the situation, suggesting that all teams would have to manage their tire sets carefully, stating, “We will get through it.”
But Byron’s tirade didn’t end there. He unleashed a barrage of expletives, exclaiming, “This is f*cked, this is f*cked. Our right rears are f*cked!” Despite Fugle’s insistence that Byron’s lap times were still competitive, the discontent was palpable as the No. 24 driver grappled with the tire issues.
Adding to the drama, Byron’s teammate Kyle Larson managed to secure a spot in the Round of 12 despite finishing 24th in Stage 1, thanks to the playoff points he had accumulated in earlier rounds. In contrast, Byron entered this critical stage of the playoffs ranked sixth in the standings, 39 points above the perilous playoff cutline.
As the dust settled on this chaotic event, Byron’s thoughts turned to the unique atmosphere of Bristol Motor Speedway, famously dubbed the “last great colosseum.” He described the electrifying environment as reminiscent of a football stadium, stating, “It’s cool. I think it’s just a really unique place… the fans are really close to you, which gives you that little bit more adrenaline boost.”
Byron’s previous outings at Bristol had shown promise, finishing sixth in the Spring race and climbing from a challenging 26th start. However, despite his efforts, he’s still in search of his first victory at the half-mile concrete track, with his best finishes being third place in both 2021 and 2022.
As fans and fellow competitors pick up the pieces from this rollercoaster race, Byron’s fiery comments serve as a potent reminder of the high stakes and intense emotions that define NASCAR racing. Will Goodyear address these tire troubles ahead of the next race? One thing is certain: the drama is far from over in the world of stock car racing.
