Alex Bowman, who earned pole place within the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, ran 70 consecutive laps in observe with none issues. Within the spring, tire failures have been showing in about half that point.
“Yeah, I imply I feel it’s again to the place it was a yr in the past,” defined Bowman. “I didn’t actually see any uncommon put on. They don’t fall off that a lot. So positively curious as to what the variable is there, proper? I feel there’s a number of good individuals that may work out what that variable is; between the assessments right here, the spring race and all the pieces, with the identical stuff inflicting totally different outcomes.
“I feel we’re in for Bristol a yr in the past, greater than Bristol from the spring. Until all of the rubber comes up off the observe in a single day for no matter cause, I feel that may create the spring race once more. However barring that occuring, I feel it’ll be sort of regular Bristol once more.”
Extra Goodyear tire rubber on the observe
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Pictures
That is unlucky information for followers that have been hoping to see a repeat of the chaotic race from earlier this yr, which was action-packed and featured 54 lead adjustments — shattering the earlier Bristol document of 40 set over three many years earlier.
A number of guessing
One other consider all that is the applying of PJ1 traction compound alongside the underside groove of the observe on Saturday morning, whereas additionally cleansing off the highest groove following the Xfinity race. It is unclear how that may have an effect on issues in the course of the race. NASCAR made this choice after conversations Goodyear, drivers, and the observe itself.
Martin Truex Jr. says his crew has been reviewing information and video all week, “making an attempt to sort of perceive or guess considerably — as a result of the laborious half about this observe is it adjustments so much.
“You by no means fairly know what you’re going to get – are we going to race the underside or are we going to race the highest? Are the tires going to wear down like they did within the spring or is it going to be like final fall? There may be at all times a number of questions if you come right here, however I feel we have now a sport plan that we really feel like is the fitting technique to strategy it for us, and we’ll simply be capable of take it one step at a time.”
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge Cal Ripken Sr. Fdn. Chevrolet Camaro, Todd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports, CITGARD Ford Mustang
Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Joey Logano is one driver in tonight’s race who would not have to fret, as he’s already locked into the Spherical of 12 after successful the playoff opener at Atlanta.
“Not as tense for me as it’s for others,” joked the two-time NASCAR Cup champion. Requested concerning the tire put on, he famous that “it’s an enormous variable. It is perhaps the most important one.”
Like Truex, the Staff Penske star is uncertain of what to anticipate. Heading into observe, he predicted that the groups would see main fall-off, however that did not look like the case.
No points in observe
There have been no tire points in observe and lap-times solely dropped by round two to 3 tenths over the course of a 30-lap run. Logano averaged 15.661s over the primary 5 laps, dropping solely to fifteen.991s by the point he accomplished 30 circuits.
“I’m positive a number of groups most likely made some adjustments to their automobiles from final time,” he continued. “That may assist that. I believed it was nice final time. It’s entertaining to observe, simply watching the race again. There was a lot occurring, nearly an excessive amount of occurring to the place you possibly can’t really sustain with all of it, however it positively threw fairly the outdated slider on us that we weren’t able to see. This time, everybody will likely be extra ready.”
Cleansing up rubber from extreme Goodyear tire put on
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Pictures
Because it stands, it is unlikely we’ll get a present that mirrors the spring race, however ought to tire put on grow to be an issue, Denny Hamlin solely hopes NASCAR stays regular with the timing of warning flags.
“Simply consistency on no matter is a warning early, it’s the identical warning that’s late,” stated Hamlin, who has gained the final two Cup races at Bristol. “If you’re keen to let guys run across the backside or the highest with a flat tire, allow them to do this on the finish of the race as effectively. Simply consistency so far as that’s involved. Whether it is known as tight to start with, name it tight on the finish. Whether it is known as free to start with, name it free on the finish. These are sort of the one consistencies that competitors can be on the lookout for.”
