<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Last Great Colosseum\u201d has always fascinated fans and drivers alike. For one whole season starting in 2024, track officials have been figuring out a tire compound that preserves the track\u2019s gladiator-like racing experience while not making it very difficult for drivers. But finding that thin line is not that easy!<\/p>\n
With failed experiments in March 2024, Bristol Motor Speedway is finally back to its old, not-trusted, and HATED tire compound, PJ1. Let\u2019s just say that fans are very far from happy (somewhere close to anger), and when NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass wrote about it, fans erupted!<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the Big Deal About NASCAR Using PJ1 Trackbite?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a small history lesson! Since 2016, Bristol has been using PJ1 Trackbite Compound<\/a> as a traction-enhancing formula at the bankings and lower groove at the Speedway. The reasons are simple: Durability and Grip.<\/p>\n This black resin track compound was durable enough to last on tracks for months and even years. This cuts management costs and makes the track feel more familiar to the drivers. Under heat, the compound becomes very sticky and causes tires to grip heavily, which causes more tire wear. But unfortunately, tire wear is not everything that makes racing interesting.<\/p>\n Read More: Bubba Wallace Delivers Brutal Reality Check as Gateway Tire Fails to Fix NASCAR\u2019s Passing Problem<\/a><\/p>\n PJ1 has its own set of problems. It was always influenced by the weather, becoming oily when wet. Damp weather would just see cars flying off into the wall! Consistency left the room. So they tried to switch things up in 2024\u2019s Food City 500 in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Enter VP Racing\u2019s \u201cVP Resin,\u201d the new kid on the block, trying to earn the \u2018reliability\u2019 tag. But things just got worse! The Bristol race saw record lead changes<\/a>, with 54 drivers passing on the baton to each other. Tire wear was everywhere, with cars barely lasting 40-50 laps. Denny Hamlin emerged victorious in the tire wear chaos, all thanks to his experience in late models.<\/p>\n Bristol is back on PJ1, and things have looked more consistent than VP Resin!<\/p>\n What Do Fans Feel About PJ1 on the Bristol Motor Speedway?<\/p>\n Pockrass posted on X<\/a>, \u201cNASCAR\u2019s plan as far as applying PJ1 to Bristol surface is to spray Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It will be same areas in the turn, a four-foot wide application up from the apron.\u201d This sent fans into a frenzy, calling out NASCAR and its ability to give fans what they want.<\/p>\n One fan took it too far<\/a>, commenting, \u201cOr\u2026don\u2019t do put it down and maybe have a good race. At this rate \u2013 Bristol doesn\u2019t belong in anybody\u2019s schedule.\u201d Fans are getting uninterested in a track that has been on the annual schedule since 1978, and it looks concerning.<\/p>\n Another fan emphasized the fact that NASCAR does not care about its fans anymore. The comment read<\/a>, \u201cBob does Nascar know fans hate short track now and this car is a failure, and if so, do they care?\u201d<\/p>\n The same fan also came up with what to expect from the upcoming Bristol race: A nightmare! He commented,<\/a> \u201cAnother no passing short track dirty air blocking banger on deck. Mark your calanders!!\u201d<\/p>\n Some fans then pointed out the real problem. It was not the track, it was the car! One fan wrote<\/a>, \u201cIf something has to be added to the track to get good racing, maybe do something about the cars racing on said track?\u201d<\/p>\n With so much backlash to the PJ1 compound, NASCAR needs to up its game. The sport\u2019s core category will slowly die out if fans don\u2019t support short-track racing. Making the race enjoyable is essential, but at what cost?<\/p>\n