NASCAR and its tire partner Goodyear have enjoyed a long partnership together. However, it hasn’t always sat well with the racing community. The tire manufacturer has been collaborating with the organization for the past 68 years and the journey hasn’t been the best one. Time and again NASCAR’s greatest, including the outspoken Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, have all expressed their displeasure with the company’s unpredictable and inadequate products.

While some drivers like the great Jeff Gordon mellowed down, giving a more diplomatic angle and mincing his words, Stewart did not let his slide, calling out Goodyear’s product as “the most pathetic racing tire” he has seen in his professional career. Recently another driver also slammed the manufacturer, mentioning that the tires need more innovation to suit the Next-Gen platform.

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Martin Truex Jr mentioned the obvious in his pre-race interview when asked about his thoughts about the upcoming short-track race in Martinsville.

Days after Jeff Gordon let his displeasure be known, Martin Truex Jr drops a bomb as he slams Goodyear

Now, it’s no secret in the community that the organization’s short-track package in venues like Martinsville, Bristol, etc needs a proper revamp. To be fair with the analogy, it’s not like the venues need a rejig by NASCAR’s short-track product that comes along with the new Next-Gen race car needs adequate improvisation.

Passing is still a hard nut to crack for drivers in such short half-mile venues, especially in the modern platform. Add a sloppy tire to the equation that is infamous for wear and tear and Voila, we have a recipe for disaster. Just take a look at the case of tire cuts in the past races, the numbers have gone up considerably with prominent drivers including Chase Elliott and Truex Jr falling victim to Goodyear’s unpredictability.

While the tire cuts have no specific reasons, considering that they are well accounted for across all track types, the JGR veteran did not let this one slide when asked about the upcoming race in Martinsville. Readying his aim on the tire manufacturer, he fired shots, saying, “It’s been disappointing so far with the NextGen car. We haven’t been able to get the tires just right there and now that we’re shifting, it hurts the racing. But if we don’t shift, the racing would be worse as we wouldn’t have enough power. It’s just been a tough one.” 

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The 42-year-old further added to his point, mentioning the testing process from earlier this year, sharing skepticism. “It’s always been such a fun track, but this car is so much different than what we’ve ever had before, so it just needs some work. I think they were tire testing there earlier this year, so don’t know if it’s different, but that’s definitely something that needs some work.”

Jeff Gordon’s cautious & diplomatic approach

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Unlike drivers who have the sole responsibility to win races and get their team into the limelight, Gordon has a far greater responsibility at hand as Hendrick Motorsports’ Vice Chairman. So, it’s no wonder that the man will be cautious and wary of what says on a public platform. But even the veteran himself could hold himself back from taking a jab at Goodyear, subtly mentioning his nervousness.

After last week’s race in Las Vegas, the 52-year-old on seeing his drivers getting back in the closing laps said, “I don’t know if they were cutting tyres apart looking at the inside shoulder but they kept coming back saying that they looked good so…I don’t think that’s, that was too much of a worry but of course, you never know.”

Larson who was going bonkers at mind-numbing speeds to hold his ground against the #20 JGR car was the one that carried all the risks. Mentioning the #5 driver’s scenario, Gordon continued, saying, “I felt like the first run was the one that seemed to make everybody the most nervous because the speeds were fast and Larson was out front and you know, pushing it so I was a little bit nervous that but there at the end, felt pretty good about it but you never know, you know.”

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