Hamlin Masters Dover Despite Tire Controversy

Fan Outcry Follows Next Gen Car’s Performance on Old Rubber

Denny Hamlin secured a hard-fought victory at Dover Motor Speedway, navigating treacherous restarts and holding off teammate Chase Briscoe. The win, Hamlin’s second consecutive at the track, was overshadowed by debate regarding the Next Gen car’s ability to maintain competitive racing on aged tires.

Briscoe Falls Short in Tire Duel

Briscoe, who finished just over three-tenths of a second behind Hamlin, mounted a charge on fresher tires in the closing laps. However, Hamlin, on worn rubber, managed to defend his position through three late-race restarts, sparking a fan backlash amplified by comments from racing personality Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dover was interesting for sure. Great run to the finish. Glad Nascar gave it the best effort to see the checkered. Indy next.

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) July 20, 2025

Earnhardt Jr.’s post-race assessment on X suggested a positive view of the race’s conclusion. However, many fans disagreed, criticizing what they perceived as fundamental issues with the current car model.

Fan Frustration Mounts Over Racing Quality

Social media buzzed with criticism following the race. One prominent fan comment read, The rain was the most interesting part of the race. It’s so ridiculous that a guy on fresher tires cannot pass the leader in this car. And NASCAR just continues to do absolutely nothing to fix it. This car was made for intermediates, but not for any other style track.

Another fan bluntly stated, Only thing interesting was the resumption. Before that boring snooze racing. A third echoed the sentiment, demanding, This car has to go or have a huge overhaul. Too many type tracks are suffering bad races due to the car.

Rain Delays and Strategic Pit Stops

The event was interrupted by a red flag on lap 386 due to heavy rain, with racing resuming approximately 75 minutes later. Notably, the leading seven cars opted to remain on track with aged tires, a decision that set the stage for the late-race drama. Ryan Blaney, running eighth, was among the first to pit for fresh tires.

Late-Race Incidents Shape the Finish

Briscoe made significant gains on the restart, climbing into the top six. However, a spin by Christopher Bell while challenging Hamlin for the lead collected William Byron and Noah Gragson. This incident allowed Briscoe to position himself directly behind Hamlin for a subsequent restart.

Another caution, brought out by a collision involving Zane Smith and Ryan Preece, placed Briscoe on the front row alongside Hamlin. Despite having newer tires, Hamlin successfully maintained his lead through the final laps, securing his 58th career Cup Series win.

Next Gen Car Under Scrutiny

The Next Gen car has drawn consistent criticism for its impact on racing quality, particularly on short tracks and superspeedways. The car’s parity often prevents drivers on newer tires from overtaking those on older ones, a phenomenon that has left many fans unimpressed. The tire degradation appears minimal, primarily serving to prevent blowouts. Even on intermediate tracks, for which the car was reportedly designed, fan dissatisfaction with the on-track product is reportedly growing.

According to data from NASCAR’s 2024 season, average green-flag passes per race have seen fluctuations, with some observers pointing to the Next Gen car’s aerodynamic dependency as a factor in the reduced overtaking opportunities on certain circuits (NASCAR.com 2024 Season Review).