Denny Hamlin achieved consecutive triumphs at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin and his No:11 Crew rejoiced in their victory at the Bristol Cup race (Via IMAGO).
The NASCAR Cup Series event at Bristol on Sunday transported fans back to the nostalgic era where the drivers made all the difference. The significance of track positions and challenging passing situations was absent as drivers focused on managing the unexpectedly substantial tire wear caused by the new wheel provided by Goodyear.
Hamlin, an experienced driver on the grid, successfully fended off his fellow veteran and teammate in the final laps to secure his 52nd career win and his fourth at Bristol Motor Speedway. This victory also marked back-to-back wins for Hamlin, as he had previously emerged victorious in the 500-mile race at the renowned colosseum in 2023.
Toyota once again showcased the fastest car, replicating their performance from the previous week at Phoenix. The extensive tire wear compelled drivers to prioritize short-run strategies, and the speed advantage aided them in prolonging the lifespan of their tires and making late pit stops. NO:54 JGR driver claimed victory in the initial stages and put up a valiant fight, but ultimately lacked the speed to catch up to Hamlin in the end.
He settled for a ninth-place finish, one position ahead of his teammate l. predicted before the race that Hamlin would emerge as the winner, and fortunately, his prediction came true when Truex Jr. ran out of tires to mount a challenge in the final laps. An interesting fact that highlights the exceptional performance of the top-5 drivers today is that, apart from them, no one managed to finish within the lead laps. The last time such a limited number of drivers finished the race outside the lead lap was twenty years ago.
Over the years, tire wear has gradually become less of a concern for drivers, especially in the Next-Gen era. Consequently, most teams in the garage struggled due to a lack of adequate understanding on how to tackle this situation. Hamlin, on the other hand, encountered no issues thanks to his wealth of experience, which allowed him to secure victories.
The key to Hamlin’s triumph lay in his tire management and the timing of his final pit stop, which afforded him the opportunity to push hard. The tire change has proven to be the solution to the short track racing problem faced by Next-Gen cars, and NASCAR should explore this approach further in the upcoming short track events of the year.