Chase Elliott pointed to NASCAR rather than Goodyear following the Bristol Night Race, which was marred by extreme tire wear and chaos. Despite facing a rare Did Not Finish (DNF) and a near chance of elimination, Elliott ultimately made it through the cutoff, highlighting concerns about tire performance under race conditions.
Since the event, Elliott has shared his thoughts on the ongoing tire issues when speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, emphasizing the need for genuine solutions rather than superficial fixes to the controversy surrounding tire wear at Bristol.
Elliott Weighs in on Goodyear’s Experimental Tire Strategy
The Bristol Night Race has been a difficult venue for racing in recent years, especially since the introduction of the Next Gen car and its aerodynamic changes. These adjustments accelerated tire degradation, with drivers during the 2024 spring race at Bristol struggling to keep tires effective beyond 30 to 40 laps.
In response, NASCAR partnered with Goodyear to develop a new tire compound after 18 months of collaboration, aiming to improve tire management on the short 0.533-mile oval. However, the outcome of last week’s race indicated that the solution remains far from perfect.
Speaking after one of the many serious crashes, Elliott acknowledged both NASCAR and Goodyear’s efforts but underscored the importance of finding a better, more balanced approach to tire performance.
Look, I applaud everyone involved for kind of attacking that science experiment with the tire and trying to make it do something cool and different and replicate a race that no one really understood why it happened, being that race up there last spring,
Chase Elliott said.
I think that there are always ways to tweak and help and make it better,
he added.
The Search for a Practical and Balanced Tire Solution
Elliott openly acknowledged the difficulty in defining the right balance for tires going forward. He stressed the importance of improving the products without resorting to gimmicks that complicate drivers’ ability to compete effectively on short notice.
I’m not sure what the right balance is, but it’s always important to try and make the product as best we can. I just don’t want it to feel gimmicky, you know what I mean?
Elliott explained.
I want it to be real, and I want the drivers to be able to make a big difference if it is going to be a tire conservation race — how you do that and the skill it takes to achieve that, too,
he continued, highlighting the skill factor involved.
He also mentioned that tire performance is only part of the puzzle, and overall car performance must be evaluated over time to gain a full understanding of race dynamics under the new tire conditions.
Race Day Conditions and Impact on Tire Wear
The unpredictability of tire wear was evident in the latest Bristol event, where practice sessions showed minimal tire degradation but the race itself delivered early signs of tire cording. Cooler temperatures on race day, remaining around the mid-60s, appeared to contribute to the unexpected tire behavior.
The race demanded careful management of tires, but Elliott’s day was cut short due to contact with John Hunter Nemechek on Lap 311, which sent him into the outside wall. He finished in 38th place, a disappointing result amid ongoing tire struggles.
Implications for NASCAR and Future Tire Development
Elliott’s comments underline the broader challenge NASCAR and Goodyear face in balancing tire durability, driver skill, and race excitement without introducing elements that seem contrived or unfair. As teams and manufacturers continue to test and adapt, the situation at Bristol serves as a reminder of how complex tire management remains in the Next Gen car era.
Moving forward, the focus will likely remain on refining compounds and conditions so that races are competitive and safe, while still rewarding drivers’ strategic abilities on track. The conversation around “Chase Elliott tire balance” reflects a desire for practical solutions that respect both driver capability and tire science, without resorting to gimmicks that undermine the sport’s integrity.
.@chaseelliott weighs in on tire wear moving forward post-Bristol and leading into @NHMS.
🔊 "I'm not sure what the right balance is, but it's always important to try and make the products as best we can. I don't want it to feel gimmicky."
More → https://t.co/MKhd9eLpQA pic.twitter.com/QIXVoruo7O
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 18, 2025
