Last spring, Denny Hamlin didn’t just win at Bristol — he mastered it. He found a rhythm on a concrete surface that tore tires to pieces. In a race where tire cords showed after just 45 laps, Hamlin stayed cool, calm, and calculated. He led a race-high 163 laps and out-dueled teammate Martin Truex Jr. in traffic late to win the Food City 500. Hamlin said afterward, “Once it became a tire-management race, I really liked our chances.”

That 2024 race set the standard for what fans and teams would call “real racing” — tire wear, chaos, and strategy. Goodyear’s decision to bring a fast-degrading tire turned the event into a short-track classic. Now, in 2025, Hamlin is already on a two-win streak and is calling shots again. “If it just so happens that it is three in a row, that would be awesome,” he said on his Action Detrimental podcast.

Interestingly, all signs point to déjà vu. As Cup teams rolled into Bristol this year, it didn’t take long for drivers to realize they were back in tire hell. Fans watching the practice picked up on it immediately. Tires were shredding again, and just like last year, Goodyear’s role took center stage. However, the NASCAR community couldn’t stop getting excited about it.

The experimentation with tires for the 2025 season started in Phoenix when NASCAR introduced an option tier to identify the best suitable compound for the track. However, after the race, NASCAR backed off its plan to introduce an option tire elsewhere in 2025. But nobody expected Bristol to become the wild card—again. Teams arrived with notes in hand, thinking they understood what the track would do. They didn’t.

From early practice laps, teams were already seeing tire wear levels that shocked even the most seasoned veterans. Just like last spring, the rubber was shredding fast. Some teams reported tires falling apart after just 35-40 laps. RFK Racing driver and co-owner Brad Keselowski didn’t hold back over the radio: “Track is taking a s—. Tires are coming apart.” Former Cup driver Kevin Harvick saw the signs immediately. “When I look through my notebooks, it is word for word what is happening right now,” he said on Prime Video’s qualifying coverage.

Even Denny Hamlin was shocked that NASCAR decided to stick with the compound they went with last year. “Truthfully, I wouldn’t have expected it, but certainly, it looks like the formula is striking again. So, yeah, it’s going to be an interesting race.” Hamlin has notably been a long-time critic of NASCAR for the level of parity in the racing since 2022 (Next-Gen car), requesting faster tire wear and more horsepower. So, it’s no surprise that he won Bristol the last time these tires were in play, and he is set to be a major contender once again, starting 4th on the grid.

Suddenly, pit stops and tire management are the talk of the garage again. Fans picked up on the tire drama quickly. One fan posted, “Holy F—– S—! We may not have a full race tomorrow if tires look like that every 40 laps.” And that’s not far from the truth. In 2024, the average green-flag run rarely crossed 45 laps. Tire cords forced constant pit stops and strategy resets. With similar conditions shaping up this weekend, anything could happen.

To combat this, NASCAR reapplied PJ1 Trackbite—Bristol’s infamous traction compound. PJ1 was once replaced by resin, but that failed to deliver grip last fall. So, in a rare move, NASCAR brought back PJ1 this spring, hoping to revive the bottom groove. “There are marbles up at the top, obviously, the bottom is where you want to be,” Hamlin noted. Still, many drivers have voiced concerns over the compound’s inconsistency.

With the PJ1 back in play and tires wearing like sandpaper, the stage is set for another tire-management thriller. If last year taught us anything, it’s that chaos can produce classics. The fans are ready. So are the drivers—at least the ones who like to fight for every inch.

Fans go crazy over NASCAR’s Bristol drama!

NASCAR fans aren’t just noticing the tire drama at Bristol—they’re celebrating it. After years of debates about Next-Gen parity, horsepower packages, and the need for “real racing,” Bristol’s Goodyear gamble is giving people what they want. One fan on Reddit said what many are thinking: “Goodyear better be bringing more tires to the track tomorrow, lmao.” With tires only lasting around 40 laps and a 500-lap race ahead, tire supply is becoming a very real concern. We could see 10-12 pit stops, minimum — if teams can even make it that far.

Another fan posted, “O man. Are we going to see green flag pit stops at Bristol?” That’s something you rarely hear at a half-mile bullring. But with wear this extreme, even under green, drivers might have no choice but to pit. Tire cords don’t care if you’re leading or in traffic. Meanwhile, some fans were really excited as one posted, “This is how racing should be — raw and unpredictable. Make these guys fight the car for 500 laps.”

Another fan echoed the sentiments and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we might be in for a banger tomorrow.” And it’s hard to argue. The 2024 spring race was one of the most dramatic short-track battles in years. Drivers ran on the edge. Strategy mattered. And only five drivers finished on the lead lap. And finally, perhaps the most honest assessment: “It’s going to be a c— show like last spring, isn’t it?”

Well, if last year’s race taught us anything, it’s that the “c—- show” can also mean unforgettable racing. So, buckle up. Between Goodyear’s unpredictable tires and drivers who are already playing mind games with each other, Bristol is set for another wild ride. And if history repeats itself, don’t be surprised if Denny Hamlin ends up in victory lane once again.

Who do you think will take the spoils at the Food City 500? Let us know in the comments!