If there is one thing that all the stakeholders in NASCAR want, it’s to make the races more interesting. Don’t get this wrong, NASCAR is already as action-packed and drama-packed as it can get. Yet, one aspect of the sport that Goodyear has taken upon itself to improve is overtaking.

The first thought for most reading means, that Goodyear is working on making tires with a better grip. This should lead to drivers having faster cars, encouraging more overtaking. Although that is slightly true, they mainly target the lap time falloff. This is becoming quite a discussion online and Bob Pockrass came forth to give a breakdown of what’s in store for fans.

NASCAR going experimental with the tires again

Today, NASCAR shared the news about having different tire compounds for round 2 of the playoffs. This was brought to light by Bob Pockrass, who said, “Still TBD, but from what I gather from the Martinsville test, it seemed like they were leaning toward the softer tire as the right-side tire for the race and a new left-side compound that was between the standard and softer tire.”

Now one thing we don’t need a rocket scientist to know is that softer tires mean more graining. The more the drivers race using these tires, the slower they will get per lap. This has been Goodyear’s plan all along. According to the tire manufacturer, they are estimating a 3-second fall-off from a tire at Watkins Glen. Nevertheless, Pockrass could speak to the crew chiefs after the tests vehemently dismissed this claim.

The whole point of making the 3-second falloffs is to introduce a layer of strategy over a track that is automatically hard to overtake. Compared to the oval circuits, the street track at The Glen has very few “passing zones,” which will force drivers to pit more during races. It will no longer be a fuel conservation race, but the focus on tire degradation will be at a new high. Although according to the prior tests, drivers have seen a falloff, it has not been as severe as Goodyear would prefer.

One thing to know about fans is that they enjoy seeing action on the tracks. Seeing a race leader lose their position while in the pit lane is not a fun experience for anyone involved. While some fans are happy with the development, others want to see some classic on-track racing.

Sure, some see the appeal in additional strategy on the tracks. However, they stand among other fans who want to see drivers give everything they have while going door-to-door with another car.

Fans unsure how to feel about the new tires

Trending

Ryan Blaney Risking Upsetting His Soon to Be Wife as He Reveals His Plans for the Off-Season After Failing to Defend His Title

“Bad to the Bone”- Fans Left Dazzled by Danica Patrick’s Sizzling Las Vegas GP Reveal

New Parents Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett Share Their Complete Family Photo, and Fans Pour in Love for Baby Stewart

Who Is Chase Elliott’s Girlfriend Ashley Anderson? Everything You Need to Know About NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver’s Rumored Love Interest

Martin Truex Jr. Girlfriend: Who Is Emily Collins, the Former JGR Star’s Red Carpet Flame

Not everyone likes changes, and based on Goodyear’s track record, their new tires do not bring home for fans. One fan made their stance on this clear by commenting, “Goodyear makes an inferior product.”

Another fan has trusted Goodyear despite the general noise about them not delivering what they promised. However, in the end, the fans like the idea of a 3-second fall, as they are more interested in seeing strategic battles on the track. This is clear from the comment that states, “3 seconds would be nice. I’d love to see a fuel vs. tire strategy battle for the win.”

Echoing a similar sentiment as the comment above, this fan commented, “I’m happy we will see increased tire falloff. I feel as if tires don’t really matter at the Watkins Glen. I hope Goodyear can change that with a new tire.” Although they like the idea of seeing increased fall-off from the softer tires, they do believe this would not make a difference at a track like Watkins Glen.

This fan believes that the fall-off on the tires will work according to Goodyear’s plans but contradicts it by saying, “Too bad stages will ruin it.” According to them, this difference won’t matter much, as drivers will use the opportunity to use the race restarts to change into fresher tires.

This fan had a question directly addressed to Pockrass among the sea of statements. They asked the Fox Sports Journalist, “Bob, will we have the same exact tire next week that they had in the spring? Or were there any adjustments for less dramatic tire falloff?”

In the comment, they are obviously referring to the tests that took place at Martinsville, where the tires showed 2–5 seconds of fall-off toward the end of their lives.

Taking all of this into consideration, do you think that Goodyear will deliver the promised fall-off from their tires at The Glen? Share your thoughts in the comments below.