All the drivers who qualified for the 2023 Crayon 301 agreed that the cars did not feel right. As a result, the racers who were familiar with the New Hampshire Motor Speedway were left surprised. Brad Keselowski, two times NHMS winner, said the experience during the tire test and the general feel of the track was different from what the racers were subjected to this season.
Now, the answer to such different experiences could be because of changes and modifications that NASCAR makes often. Therefore, the race was certainly an eye-opener for the drivers. Along with Keselowski, Ryan Blaney also faced similar issues while driving his Ford Mustang on the track. Therefore, this is certainly not a one-off incident.
Back in April 2023, several drivers were selected for tire testing on the New Hampshire track. After an extensive session, the general consensus of the racers was fairly positive. However, things were different this Saturday. Some racers claimed that the track felt more unstable and the experience was much different from April.
Different racers had different opinions about this, but Blaney went ahead and gave a more scientific reason as to why the track felt different. Quoting Ryan Blaney, “I think the biggest thing was the lack of spoiler and lower downforce that made it pretty tough and pretty slick. A lot of guys are having trouble over the bumps.” Still, Blaney managed to finish fifth place, a good result if you factor in the instability.
Due to this statement from Blaney and a general outcry from the fans, the authorities in charge of the race have pushed the race to Monday. Therefore, giving the racers a bit more time to revise their strategies and tackle the challenges with newer strategies. Still, given the nature of the sport, there are several other factors that could pose newer challenges. Therefore, it is just a matter of time before the verdict comes in. For more such news, keep following us.
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