Food City 500 challenges drivers to manage tires

On Saturday during practice and qualifying at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway there was a sign that tire wear could be an issue for the running of the Food City 500. Drivers and teams had discussions throughout Saturday evening along with Goodyear and track officials with concerns about the lap times falling off quickly from one session to the next. However, after Saturday nights Craftsman Turck Series race. Teams felt as if the track would come to them, and rubber would build up the track from the bottom to the upper groove. 

By the time the Food City 500 got underway Sunday evening we found out that was not the case as tires were showing excessive wear after as little as 20 - 25 laps. So, teams started to adjust and pivot through the stages trying to conserve tires since the teams essentially had 9 sets for the race minus the scuff set form qualifying and practice. Drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson started to slow the pace and try to make their tires last as long as possible. Even by doing that tires were only lasting to around 30 - 50 laps for green flag runs as the race moved into the later stages. 

Chris Gabehart crew chief for the number 11 Joe Gibbs racing Toyota driven by the eventual race winner Denny Hamlin said this of the tire wear and the negativity being directed toward Goodyear for the unusual excessive wear of the tires.  

"Me personally, hats off to Goodyear. I mean, I don't want them to get any heat for this. I think Goodyear makes million-mile tires on the road. I don't think they should make million-mile tires on the racetrack. I want them to have to make these drivers make decisions, crew chiefs make decisions. If they blow out, that's on the crew chief, on the team. I think that should be part of our sport to a certain degree. Force the world's best to make decisions. I think you saw a lot of that today."

Now of course these comments were from the crew chief of the winning car of the Food City 500. However, he was not alone in his thoughts as most of the veteran core of drivers and chiefs agree with his sentiments. 

By the time all was said in done in Bristol the teams endured and with the help of Goodyear and NASCAR with the release of one mores et of tires per team (all Goodyear had left from what they brought to the track) were able to make it to the checkered flag on the sets of tires they were allotted. 

Ty Gibbs dominated the first two stages of the race but potential inexperience in this situation lead to his car not being as fast as it was in the closing laps of the race as the young driver used his tires up. 

Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. put on a show near the end of the race as both drivers took their Gibbs Racing Toyota's to the front of the field. Denny ended up leaning on his past experience from his early days of racing ahead of his tenure in NASCAR. Overall, the Gibbs cars lead 354 of the 500 laps. In a race that set a new track record of 54 lead changes among 16 different leaders tying the track record. 

There is no doubt there was plenty of passing and no one missing the dirt. 

To see highlights of coverage form Rowan County Weather with pre and post-race video click play below.