Denny Hamlin Snubs NASCAR’s Aerodynamic Problem As He Points Out The Real Problem

Safety issues with NASCAR Next-Gen cars have been the subject of constant criticism from drivers and teams to the governing body. Even though NASCAR has begun implementing significant safety improvements for the nation’s fastest production car, there is still a long way to go.

Grip and tire problems on the Next Gen cars forced some drivers to miss races or retire early, including Kurt Busch. And the problem was once again addressed by none other than Denis Hamlin. On the most recent episode of Detrimental Actions, while Jared Allen was trying to make the case for one of the new improvements NASCAR is implementing, like a new splitter setup, to improve safety, Denny Hamlin spoke some pressing issues that need to be resolved first.

Aerodynamic splitter or tire modifications? How much does each of these options improve security?

NASCAR recently revealed that they would be testing a ‘elevator divider» (splitter configuration) to improve short track racing by creating lift in clear air and downforce in traffic, so cars can easily follow each other. Jared Allen brought up this point on the podcast with Denny Hamlin, but Hamlin didn’t seem to agree with the explanation.

He thinks the splitter won’t affect things much. Hamlin’s explanation? He blames the lack of tire drop on the short tracks. And he focused almost entirely on the rubber used in tires. Although NASCAR has focused on implementing additional safety measures, Hamlin continues to emphasize the need for high-quality tires.

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Hamlin said: “You have to have downforce to wear the tire down or you have to make the tire much, much softer. The downforce level on these cars is the lowest it’s been since the 90s. And when they put the splitter on it, it’ll be lower than that.“Moreover,” he says, “we cannot reduce the downforce without compensating for it with the tire.

Hamlin agreed with Jared’s reiteration that splitters won’t necessarily solve the problem since they will lift the front wheels off the ground, but they won’t cause the tires to wear faster. With a resounding “Yes!” he said, “The tires will therefore wear less. If you add it to an open track, which you will stay until you reach its traffic, you will have grip, but not because the tires wear out but because the cars lift off the ground. You will have less overall grip from the first lap, so you take away aerodynamic grip and you have to add mechanical grip..”

Watch this story: Joey Logano Warns Denny Hamlin to Be Careful of Reviving Kyle Busch’s Respect Argument

When Denny Hamlin damaged the Goodyear chief in retaliation for platitudes he made

This is not the first time that Denny Hamlin has mentioned tire problems. When Goodyear chief Greg Stucker attributed a series of crashes at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022 to things like high speeds, minor tire separations and other causes, the veteran Cup Series driver, Denny Hamlin, became furious.

And since Hamlin didn’t believe the Goodyear CEO’s excuses, he sarcastically shared a post on Twitter: “If you think maybe NASCAR will get tires from someone else, keep dreaming. GY pays them a big check, so they are allowed to rip off the teams every week.»

Hamlin has, without a doubt, always addressed the essential issues of new vehicles for drivers. Still, it seems like NASCAR continues to find new ways to incorporate new features as a remedy for difficulties rather than taking harsh action against chronic flaws.

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