Kyle Larson Doesn’t Like the Bristol Changes

Bristol Motor Speedway pole sitter Kyle Larson thinks the VHT groove at Bristol is too wide

Moments ago, Kyle Larson spoke with Dave Moody on SiriusXM Speedway via NASCAR Radio. He discussed the changes Bristol Motor Speedway made to the track ahead of this weekend’s event.

The default pole sitter doesn’t like it. Not that he doesn’t like a single groove racetrack. In fast it’s the exact opposite.

Kyle Larson Bristol Motor Speedway

Kyle Larson thinks the groove is too wide. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver stated, “It’s too easy.”

He explained, “It’s at least twice as wide as it was last year.” He explained that last year they only installed the VHT (Sticky Stuff) on the lower portion of the bottom groove. It was only wide enough for the left side tires.

That meant these drivers paid for their mistakes. Missing you marks by a few inches meant you would slide outside of the VHT. That would net a huge lose of traction, making drivers pay for mistakes.

Mistakes make for great racing. It creates opportunity for passing. In my mind, the bumper the track, the better. Dirt tracks are always bumpy, it’s a huge reason why the racing is so good on dirt.

Bristol Motor Speedway VHT Low Groove
Bristol Motor Speedway VHT on April 21, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

This weekend, the Bristol Motor Speedway VHT groove is wide enough for the whole car. Plus some. Kyle Larson basically said he could make a pretty big mistake, walk it up the track a bit and the VHT would save it for him. He’d keep on going.

He’s not a fan of the changes. To the point that he wanted to discuss possibilities for fixing the upgraded Bristol Motor Speedway VHT line. He thought a bit and said, “I guess it’s too late to change it.”

True. But let’s be honest, if you really want to fix this racetrack they need to rip the thing up, make it one groove around the bottom and forget about progressive banking all together.

Then, they can sit back and watch the cars line up along side 11E highway, for miles. After all, this is what the fans have been asking of the track, for years. Give us what they want, we will gladly come back. Until that time, I’ll spend my time at the dirt track. As I write this from the Sharon Speedway pit lane.

Author: Shane Walters

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