It’s time to head back to Bristol Motor Speedway, where the action never disappoints. The last trip to this famed half-mile track delivered one of the most surprising and thrilling races of the NASCAR Cup Series. Tire management became a critical factor, catching both teams and fans off guard. Tires were wearing out so quickly that NASCAR had to issue additional sets to ensure everyone made it through the 500 laps. The unpredictable nature of the race seemed tailor-made for Denny Hamlin, whose experience with late model racing gave him the edge to clinch the victory.
However, that race took place during the day, and the upcoming event will be held under the lights, adding an entirely different element to the challenge. As a Round of 16 elimination race, the stakes will be even higher. With Goodyear still experimenting with tires and NASCAR adjusting to a night schedule, drivers will face plenty of unknowns. For Hamlin, this means he may need to dig even deeper into his playbook if he wants to come out on top again.
Hamlin’s Tough Position
Bristol Motor Speedway has been hosting night races for 46 years, with its first event under the lights taking place in 1978. It was one of the early tracks to introduce night racing in NASCAR’s top series, and it continues to do so today. For Denny Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 team, this adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult situation. Hamlin is currently outside the playoff cut, trailing by just six points after two rough outings.
What complicates matters further is Goodyear’s unpredictable tire testing this season. When they first introduced these tires at Bristol, the race caught everyone by surprise. Although Goodyear tried to replicate that setup at the All-Star Race and Richmond, the results were far less dramatic. NASCAR reporter Kim Coon recently highlighted the tension surrounding the upcoming race during a PRN interview. She explained how many crew chiefs are anxious about what lies ahead, stating, “Every crew chief I talked to last week said that they lost sleep heading into Watkins Glen because there were so many unknowns in Bristol. They were like, we have to have a near-perfect race at Watkins Glen going into Bristol because we have so many unanswered questions.”
Coon also emphasized that Hamlin and his team must take the night factor into account. “You think about the tire and what it did in the spring – well, that was a day race. This is a night race… (It won’t be) an identical race.” Veteran crew chief Jeff Hammond echoed this sentiment, pointing out that racing at Bristol during the day and at night are two very different experiences. NASCAR is also planning to apply resin to the track surface, just like they did earlier in the year, but it will take time to work in. Coon stressed how unpredictable the race could be, noting that during the spring race, tire issues didn’t show up in practice but became a major problem during the actual event. “Again, nobody knows what’s gonna happen,” she added.
Hamlin’s Edge Over the Competition
Despite these challenges, Hamlin and a few other veterans may have a leg up on the competition. The obstacles he faces are undeniable—tire uncertainty, the night race format, and hungry non-playoff drivers like Chris Buescher aiming to make an impact. But Hamlin has a proven track record at Bristol Motor Speedway, having won the last two races there. Just a year ago, after a victory, Hamlin confidently declared, “I beat your favorite driver… all of them.”
His Joe Gibbs Racing teammates also have strong Bristol resumes. Martin Truex Jr. finished second earlier this year, while Ty Gibbs led 137 laps and won both stages during the March race. Christopher Bell has been consistently strong at Bristol, finishing in the top ten in all three Next Gen races there.
While Hamlin struggled in his last two races, posting some of the lowest running positions of his career—30.8 and 32.2—the No. 11 team is still feeling confident heading into Bristol. Crew chief Chris Gabehart remains optimistic, referring to Bristol as “our house” and saying that the playoff deficit can be overcome with a top-tier performance. “If you run in the top two or three all day, absolutely,” Gabehart said. Hamlin echoed this confidence, stating, “I feel like we can go there and win. We are going to an oval, back to a normal track. We can control our own destiny there.”
So, while Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team face plenty of hurdles at Bristol, they’ve got a solid chance of coming out on top. Fans can expect another thrilling race at The Last Great Colosseum, where anything can happen.
Denny Hamlin’s Bristol Dominance in Jeopardy Amid Goodyear’s Tire Uncertainty
