NASCAR Race at Iowa Speedway Draws Criticism Over Lack of Overtaking, Tyre Performance
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Newton, Iowa – July 2, 2024 – Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa speedway was met with frustration from drivers, particularly Denny Hamlin, who voiced strong concerns about the lack of passing opportunities and the performance of the tires provided by goodyear. The issues led to a largely processional race won by William Byron, sparking a debate about the current car setup and tire compounds used in the series.
Race recap & Driver Concerns
The 350-lap race at the .875-mile oval saw limited on-track passing,with Hamlin specifically noting the difficulty of overtaking cars outside the top 30. He pointed to Chase Briscoe’s performance at Pocono as a recent example, stating, “You can’t pass the 30th-place car. That is the problem we’re talking about and that is what we have to fix. It’s that the leader looks like superman as he can run half throttle and just hold everyone off.” The lack of passing was attributed to minimal tire fall-off,reducing the strategic advantage of pit stops and creating a situation where fuel management became the primary focus.
Hamlin’s criticism centered on the tire compound selected for the race. He described the tire as having “zero drop-off” for a significant portion of the race, with lap times remaining consistent for over 50 laps before eventually “cording” in 60 laps. He questioned the decision-making process behind tire selection, noting Goodyear had previously produced tires with a 2.5-second drop-off in 25 laps, suggesting a viable middle ground was missed. “How do you go from nothing to 2.5 seconds? Somewhere in here is a mix, right?” he asked.
The Aerodynamic Debate & Car Setup
Beyond the tires, Hamlin passionately argued that the fundamental aerodynamic setup of the Next Gen cars is exacerbating the problem. he believes the cars rely too heavily on underbody downforce,making it difficult for cars to follow closely and generate enough airflow to effectively pass. He repeatedly stressed the need to shift the downforce balance, advocating for “more overbody, less underbody.” “The attitude of the cars are wrong. It’s wrong, it’s wrong, it’s wrong, it’s wrong, please fix it, it’s wrong, it’s wrong. Fix the attitude of the car, it’ll make them better in traffic,” he stated.
Hamlin also emphasized the importance of delivering a compelling product for fans who travel long distances to attend races, particularly at venues like Iowa Speedway, which draws spectators from surrounding states like Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska. He felt Sunday’s race failed to meet that standard.
Looking Ahead: Goodyear & NASCAR Response
While the article doesn’t detail an immediate response from Goodyear or NASCAR, the concerns raised by Hamlin are likely to prompt further discussion and potential adjustments to tire compounds and car setups for future races. Goodyear has been actively working to develop softer tire compounds throughout the 2024 season, but this incident highlights the challenges of finding the optimal balance between grip, durability, and fall-off. The Next Gen car’s aerodynamic package has been under scrutiny since its introduction in 2022, and Hamlin’s comments add to the growing chorus of drivers calling for adjustments to improve racing.
William Byron’s win at Iowa Speedway marked his sixth victory of the 2024 season, solidifying his lead in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. The next race is scheduled for July 7th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.
