Relating to the debut of the brand new brief observe package deal at Darlington Raceway, there may be a Venn Diagram overlap between those that had actually good automobiles and those that felt prefer it improved the racing.
In consequence, there can also be an analogous overlap for the alternative.
Finally, most drivers mentioned the elevated horsepower and lowered downforce configuration didn’t basically change the racing product however with such a slender racing groove, Denny Hamlin says that modifications had been at all times going to be on the margins.
“It wasn’t drastically completely different,” Hamlin mentioned. “It was nonetheless very troublesome to move. This can be a slender observe, so there’s simply not many locations to go to keep away from the wake of the automobile in entrance of you. I assumed the great automobiles might move, and the mediocre ones had been hanging on.
“We’re nonetheless in observe position-type racing. I simply do not know whether or not you are actually going to get away from that it doesn’t matter what you do. Particularly with as shut in velocity as all of the automobiles are. You want .3 benefit to overhaul right here at this observe. Perhaps .2. That is loads of distinction in velocity.”
Hamlin says that’s why groups attempt to both brief pit, or run lengthy, no matter it takes to get observe place.
“I simply did not discover that a lot,” Hamlin. “It simply felt slightly bit extra uncontrolled on the outdated tires, however everybody type of tailored to it.”
From a purely factual standpoint, inexperienced flag passes and lead modifications had been up year-over-year.
3,216-to-2,96616-to-4
General, this was statistically an above-average race when it comes to passing and competitors for the lead. And whereas there was loads of hype for the way uncontrolled drivers might be on Sunday, it appeared like crashing was lowered as a result of drivers merely drove conservative races to hold onto their automobiles deeper right into a run.
That did permit for lots of comers-and-goers, even when there wasn’t loads of side-by-side racing, which is not precisely Darlington Raceway’s model within the first place as detailed by Ryan Blaney.
“That is like the primary time I feel in my Cup profession that I might let a man go, like a couple of laps right into a restart if he is hounding me or come off pit street and I mentioned to myself, ‘I am going to see you in about 20 laps and that occurred,” acknowledged the 2023 champion.
“I don’t know if that will have occurred within the different package deal so I feel it was a hit. It was good. Undoubtedly not worse.”
And visibly, the automobiles seemed like they had been capable of comply with a number one automobile simpler with this package deal, and Blaney confirmed that too.
“Yeah, slightly bit higher to comply with,” Blaney mentioned. “You continue to get the front-end nostril wash fairly laborious behind guys however I feel it was slightly bit higher at the moment. Just a bit little bit of a tweak right here and there, and I feel we might get one thing actually spectacular.”
To that time, race winner Tyler Reddick mentioned a number one automobile couldn’t air block the way in which they might the previous 4 years.
“I imply, it was tougher to defend, for my part,” Reddick mentioned. “Brad (Keselowski) made a extremely good transfer on me in 1 and a couple of. I really feel just like the transfer that Brad made on me in 1 and a couple of with the outdated automobile would have saved me behind him. I might have misplaced the nostril.
“However with this automobile and simply much less general grip I used to be capable of cross over. When he did cowl the transfer, I did not need to run into him however I by no means would have been capable of make contact, what I imply?
“Simply how that entire transfer that bought me to the lead performed out, I really feel like with the outdated automobile he would have been capable of defend that and hold me behind him.”
Ryan Preece mentioned the phrases ‘it was completely different’ but additionally desires to do extra tire testing as a result of he believes Goodyear nonetheless can go far more aggressive on fall-off now that groups have vowed to not blame them for groups crossing over the bounds.
Preece says this can be a three-pronged dialog: Downforce, horsepower and tires.
“The aerodynamics performs an enormous half in how a lot tire is positioned onto the bottom and the way it wears,” Preece mentioned. “Horsepower is how a lot you may put the throttle down, and people three are the important thing components, and nobody has the key system. This takes testing and takes time. I can solely give my suggestions of what I really feel.
“Exterior of Cup racing, I’ve executed loads of tire testing (in Tour Kind Modified racing) … and understanding with 15” extensive tires what it takes. So, I’ve beat the drum for a very long time that we have to soften up our tires.
“Lots of people have given me sideways seems, like we wanted to return to a 12” extensive tire, however guess what, the racing bought higher (after they bought softer) and I am not saying I do know every little thing, however I do know 15” extensive tires.”
General, his boss Brad Keselowski, mentioned the automobiles had been ‘tougher to drive’ and that they had been higher in visitors.
“Whenever you’re round different automobiles, it’s important to be actually, actually good and actually, actually cautious,” Keselowski mentioned. “I assumed the automobiles had been loads higher in visitors at the moment than what they have been, so I feel that was a acquire.
“I feel NASCAR is doing the correct factor, attempting issues, but it surely’s so robust at a observe like this as a result of there may be loads of tire falloff and it’s such an unforgiving racetrack.”
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