Jeff Gordon Discloses “Nervousness” in HMS Camp After Goodyear Returns to Old Infamous Ways

Although Kyle Larson picked up a dominant victory in Las Vegas, things did not go as smoothly as Hendrick Motorsports would have wanted. Both HMS cars seemed to struggle towards the end of the race. Larson’s lead was threatened at the end by a charging Christopher Bell and William Byron just could not seem to find a way to get into the top five. The issues could be due to something that most NASCAR drivers today are all too familiar with—Goodyear’s unpredictability.

Goodyear has been NASCAR’s tire partner for several years now. But not everyone has always been happy about it. The tire manufacturer has often been accused of bringing unpredictable and below-par products to the track. While those complaints have reduced in the recent past, the people over at Hendrick Motorsports might have seen a glimpse of Goodyear’s infamous past on Sunday.

Jeff Gordon expresses uncertainty over Goodyear products

Kyle Larson took a dominant victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the first race of the round of 8. The #5 Chevy led 133 laps, swept both stages, and took the checkered flag to cap off what was a very good day for the 2021 Cup Series champion. At least that is what it looks like on paper. The reality of it is not quite so simple.

Larson’s win did not come easy. Towards the end of the race, the #5’s speed dropped gradually. The 102-lap third stage made it a lot tougher on the tires. Larson’s tires seemed to be giving way. Christopher Bell managed to reduce the gap from 5 seconds to 3/10ths of a second in the final few laps and drove up to Larson’s rear bumper. Had the race gone on for a little longer, Bell would have taken the lead.

Moreover, William Byron also didn’t find it easy getting past cars towards the end of the final stage. The #24 could have finished in the top 5 but his car just did not have enough to make it. He had to settle for a P6 finish, managing only 38 points, which puts him under pressure going into the next couple of races.

In the post-race interview, Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon was asked about the state of the tires brought to the track. The 4x Cup champion remained diplomatic but his answer did not exactly let Goodyear completely off the hook. Jeff Gordon 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. 

“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.” 

While the #5 team somehow managed his tire issues and won the race, William Byron was left disappointed. The youngest Hendrick Motorsports driver understands that points are crucial in this stage of the competition. So he would have wanted to finish in a higher points-scoring position.

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Rick Hendrick’s youngest driver lands in a tough position

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In the post-race interview, William Byron expressed his disappointment with how things turned out in Las Vegas. The driver of the #24 admitted that he did not have much of a points cushion and that it was an average day.

“No, I think, I mean, we’re only nine points ahead, so we’ve got a lot of work to do. So, we’ll see, I mean, we definitely would have liked to have a better day today and just kind of had an average day,” Byron said.

Will the HMS star get back on track in the next race? Or will we see a shock entrant in the final four? Let us know your thoughts.

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