Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway unfolded with minimal drama.
This may be a result of Kyle Larson’s outstanding performance or the unexpected behavior of the tires on the track, differing from their performance the previous day.
It’s likely a combination of both factors.
Larson has demonstrated his excellence at the track across different vehicle types, securing the Cup race victory on Sunday after winning the Xfinity race and finishing second in the truck series just days before.
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NASCAR, Goodyear, and the teams must address tire durability issues.
During Saturday’s Cup practice, teams noted significant tire wear, raising concerns about the tires’ ability to last 50 laps without risking failure.
In preparation for the race, NASCAR applied additional PJ1 TrackBite to the corners of the track, enhancing grip conditions compared to earlier in the weekend.
While Larson led a remarkable 411 of the 500 laps, questions lingered about the conditions that allowed for this performance.
Larson’s crew chief noted that warm temperatures and the fresh application of PJ1 likely contributed to the tire performance.
Despite initial fears of tire wear, the race settled into a steady pace, resulting in only three cautions — two for stage breaks — over the entire event.
Jeff Gordon expressed disappointment regarding the lack of tire wear experienced during the race, indicating a gap between expectations and reality.
As Larson noted, drivers must learn to navigate the track’s challenges more proactively this time, leading to better overall performance.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
