Well, it all started with Denny Hamlin sharing a rumor on his podcast about a tire — not just any rubber, but a right-side Goodyear so soft it destroyed the factory’s sand-belt wear tester before it ever reached the track. He loved the idea of chaos, but he also worried this could backfire. And as Goodyear confirmed they were bringing something softer for Bristol, fans were drooling, drivers were curious, and media arms were waving like checkered flags. Then came Friday’s practice session, and the dream went sideways.

The Bristol weekend has already started with a little bit of controversy. Justin Haley and Ryan Blaney tied for the fastest lap in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Bristol, each laying down a 15.307-second flyer, but the biggest story might be what didn’t happen: the expected t

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