Breaking news
NASCAR Cup Loudon
VHT is keeping the drivers and teams guessing at NHMS
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series drivers will have their hands full this weekend as they attempt to figure out New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Lee Spencer
Edited: Jul 15, 2017, 5:20 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
When teams tested at the Magic Mile on May 30-31, there was no sticky substance — or VHT — on the track. Nor were there any additional series running different tire compounds at the track.
The changes have made for a curious combination of challenges for this weekends Overton’s 301.
“The race track obviously is a little bit different with the VHT,” Newman said. “And we tested up here, so it’s kind of ironic to come back and actually go a little bit slower in race trim with the added grip to the race track than what we tested up here.
“We’ve got ourselves scratching our heads a little bit. We’re more competitive than we were at the test; but speed-wise, the track seems to be a little bit off.”
VHT's affect on the racing surface
Newman completed 21 laps over 85-minutes in first practice. He was 18th in single-lap runs as he tried to figure out the surface after VHT was applied to the track.
“In general, I think the toughest thing is that VHT is a chemical,” Newman said. “So, it reacts with heat. It reacts with our tires. It reacts with friction differently and different times. And at the same time, I do believe it does spread around a little bit. So, what we do up in that higher groove, we actually pull that rubber back down and carry it down the straightaways. There are different aspects of it instead of just the typical asphalt race track.
“I think from our standpoint there are more questions about how long does it take for it to come in? How do our tires react to it with the chemical reaction that happens here compared to a concrete track at Bristol or a different tire and asphalt combination at Charlotte? There’s a lot of hesitancy, I think, to just going out and going bonsai fast. We kind of work our way up to speed and you’re biggest question after that is, is it going to be there the next time? It’s like a dirt track looking for the cushion. If that cushion gets knocked down, then you’ve got to adjust. And right now, it’s kind of acting as a cushion for us.”
When drivers were making mock qualifying runs during practice on Friday, several drivers picked up speed during their second lap despite putting an additional cycle on the tires.
Why would the drivers add a lap to their run?
“Courage,” Newman said with a laugh. “Seriously. You just kind of get a feel for it like qualifying-wise, it was more second-lap quicker than first lap and the tires just seemed wanting to take a little bit more time to come in than they typically do here, for whatever reason.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Truex tops second practice session in New Hampshire
Next article Kyle Busch leads final Cup practice at NHMS
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lee Spencer
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
More from
Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman to make NASCAR Truck start with Kaulig and Ram
NASCAR Truck
NASCAR Truck
North Wilkesboro
Ryan Newman to make NASCAR Truck start with Kaulig and Ram
Ryan Newman: NASCAR Cup title "will always be on my radar"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Ryan Newman: NASCAR Cup title "will always be on my radar"
"No memory" of Daytona wreck leaves Ryan Newman with no fear
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
"No memory" of Daytona wreck leaves Ryan Newman with no fear
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
6 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
7 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 7 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe