Hamlin: NASCAR Met with Drivers About the Short Track Package

What’s Happening?

On his most recent episode of “Actions Detrimental”, Denny Hamlin revealed that NASCAR met with the drivers regarding a myriad of topics. This included the short track package, and Hamlin expressed what NASCAR is going to try next to improve short-track racing. Here is what NASCAR had to say according to Hamlin.

• The short-track package has been a major issue since the Next-Gen car was introduced. Fans and drivers alike have not enjoyed the racing product on short tracks during this era.
• NASCAR has primarily tinkered with aerodynamics and tires throughout the last couple of years. However, it has not achieved the desired results.
• Fans are hoping that NASCAR look at either tires or horsepower. NASCAR seems committed to looking at at least one of those areas.

Tires and…Tracks?

They’re going to really focus on tires and tracks. I don’t exactly know what they mean when it comes to focusing on the tracks. Maybe that’s, you know think about the tire and how it’s made and how it accommodates each track?

Denny Hamlin

The new fad amongst fans and drivers to improve short track racing is tire wear. Essentially, create a tire that drivers have to manage throughout a race. Adding this element of strategy helped out the spring race at Bristol, where tire management was the name of the game.

By Hamlin’s own admission, dealing with the race tracks is the more puzzling admission. NASCAR cannot change the track surfaces without digging up the surface and repaving/reconfiguring, an expensive proposition. However, Elton Sawyer spoke out about the short track package on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio following the Martinsville race.

🛞 "We are working as hard as we can with Goodyear, and we need to work harder."

🔧 #NASCAR's Elton Sawyer says the sanctioning body is working daily to improve the short track product.

Full Interview → https://t.co/WGRTG5gVtL pic.twitter.com/orczjio1IL

— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) April 9, 2024

As Sawyer said, each race track is different, and, as a result, not one tire will fix the problem across the board. It seems unlikely that NASCAR will reconfigure a bunch of tracks, but they may use that information to improve the tire wear.

NASCAR Is DONE With Aero

It’s safe to say that I think NASCAR is done with tinkering with aero on short tracks. Which, thank God, it was never aero

Denny Hamlin

NASCAR has almost exclusively looked at aerodynamics with some tinkering with the tires on short tracks. However, now it seems they have exhausted all options with aero, and they are looking towards other ideas. It makes sense since races with the new aerodynamic changes on short tracks have been lackluster.

This is not a major surprise as NASCAR has tried everything with aero that they can. They’ve messed with the rear diffuser, the spoiler, and every aerodynamic piece on the car they can. Aerodynamics simply doesn’t impact short tracks that much due to the slow speeds.

The reason NASCAR has tried aerodynamics is that it’s the least expensive and risky option. NASCAR can easily test and make changes to aerodynamics, but, the impact just is not there on short tracks.

Horsepower is NOT Option

They to us that horsepower is just not an option for various reasons.

Denny Hamlin

NASCAR continues to stand firm on keeping horsepower as-is for now, regardless of how much people have been asking for it. There are plenty of reasons including the costs, the addition of a new manufacturer, and fear of the field being spread out.

NASCAR May Not Increase Horsepower…Here’s Why

It may not be popular, but it is the reality. Horsepower is not something NASCAR will increase now, and it seems it won’t happen in the foreseeable future either. However, if the tires are right, does NASCAR need to increase horsepower?

Would WORSE Tires Fix Short Track Racing?

Bristol was a very entertaining race despite the horsepower restriction. NASCAR appears to see tires as the best way forward as a result.

NASCAR is going to take another big swing at the short track package sometime soon. It seems tires are the next place to go.