Particle.news
Download on the App Store
18 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Bell Wins Bristol as Tire Wear Rewrites Race Strategy

NASCAR says wear-focused tires are intended to boost passing, with engineering meetings now examining right‑front fire incidents.

Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Toyota Camry, takes the chequered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Image: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 King's Hawaiian Toyota, and Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Open Road Sweeps Chevrolet, pit during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com
Image

Overview

  • Goodyear released an extra set of tires during the event, giving teams 12 total sets as unexpected right‑side wear surfaced about 20–30 laps into runs.
  • NASCAR reported a record number of passes through the field at Bristol and a season‑high 14 cautions, with constant pit‑cycle flips producing frequent lead changes.
  • At least three cars experienced right‑front fires (including Josh Berry and Austin Cindric), and NASCAR officials said engineers will review causes and potential adjustments before New Hampshire.
  • Views diverged on the approach: Hendrick’s Rudy Fugle criticized the night as tire shredding rather than true degradation, while Cup director Brad Moran defended targeting tire wear to spur passing; Christopher Bell praised the officiating.
  • Christopher Bell’s win completed a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep of the Round of 16 as Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry were eliminated, with pit‑road infractions triggering penalties and Hamlin’s loose‑wheel violation set to bring crew suspensions.