Denny Hamlin Disagrees with Teammate as Both Give Contrasting Feedback for the Short Track Package

Back in December 2023, Phoenix Raceway was buzzing with activity during the short package tests. They were experimenting with different aerodynamic setups and Goodyear tire combos, all aimed at improving short-track racing for the 2024 season. The tweaks included a fresh splitter design and a diffuser sporting two aluminum rakes, designed to lessen the impact of dirty air on cars when they’re bunching up.

The changes got a thumbs up, especially from Ryan Blaney, the freshly crowned NASCAR Cup Series champ, who was making his return to the track where he celebrated his big win just a month before. But, fast forward to the season’s fourth race, and the same setup under the spotlight during practice didn’t seem to hit the mark like before. Denny Hamlin, though, begs to differ.

For Denny Hamlin, adjustments did make a difference, while #19 said they did not

At the Richmond test last August, using a similar setup, drivers hardly noticed any change in their cars’ handling compared to the December 2023 test. Yet, during the initial day of action in Phoenix, nearly every driver sensed mild to major tweaks. However, this time at Phoenix, Martin Truex Jr, with heaps of experience, shared his two cents on the short-track package, saying he felt zero difference. To him, the car was just as challenging in traffic as it was last fall.

On the flip side, Denny Hamlin saw things a tad differently, according to Jeff Gluck’s tweet, he suggested the package might have improved, ‘a little bit better‘ in traffic, though overall, he didn’t see much change from the previous year. He did mention his team has gone through some big setup changes since then. Interestingly, even Hamlin’s own driver, Tyler Reddick, aired his concerns on FS1, stating the car was “exponentially worse” in traffic during practice, which is a bummer since the new package was supposed to help with exactly that.

But what’s the word from other drivers? William Byron came out of practice saying the new package didn’t make a dent in his driving experience. He mentioned that once he got within a whisker—two or three car lengths—of another car, his ride would tighten up so much he couldn’t inch any closer. The only shot at overtaking, he said, was if he had a tire edge of 2-3 laps, otherwise, no dice.

Chase Elliott echoed Byron’s sentiment post-practice, admitting the package changes were so subtle he almost forgot NASCAR had tweaked anything until they debriefed afterward. So, it looks like Denny Hamlin stands alone for now in noticing any real difference with Phoenix’s new short-track setup.

And those Goodyear changes? It seems like they didn’t stir up much on the track either.

NASCAR’s tire partners fail the drivers

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Goodyear threw a curveball at Phoenix Raceway with a tweak to the tires, aiming to shake up the short-track game for NASCAR. They beefed up the tread, thinking it’d make the tires hold onto heat better on those tight circuits, cranking up the need for clever strategy and making the races even more thrilling.

But, it looks like Goodyear might’ve dropped the ball. Drivers are noticing their lap times dragging, falling over a second behind during a 20-lap run. Case in point: Kyle Larson trying to slip past Austin Dillon. Larson kept on Dillon’s bumper, hunting for a way past, but no dice. Dillon eventually pulled away, leaving Larson to eat dust.

Then, when Cole Cusumano quizzed Chase Elliott about how the new tire mix was working out for him, Elliott’s response was likely not what Goodyear was hoping to hear.

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“Man, I’ll shoot you super straight. They change the tire all the time. Not only does it not make the racing look any different, but it’s really hard to tell from inside the car. Regardless of whatever compound they put on — and I’m not saying it doesn’t change things, because it does — but they are such minute things. It’s not gonna look any different. You’re never gonna hear about it. I don’t mean that negatively, but the cars are what they are. We’re racing on asphalt and there are four tires. It can only be so different. Typically, the same guys run good every week whether there’s a tire compound change or not.”

We’re still on standby to hear what the rest of the pack thinks about the tire tweaks.