• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Track Enhancements Come to Charlotte Motor Speedway

Officials hope to have a better surface for the Coca-Cola 600

Grip enhancer dubbed ‘Tire Dragon’ Image via tomsrjustsayin.blogspot.com

The sticky substance most familiar with fellow SMI racetrack Bristol Motor Speedway made its way to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.

The compound is designed to add more grip to the applied surfaces — at Bristol it is applied to the bottom to reminisce the ‘old school Bristol’ way of racing.


The decision to apply the substance came after a lackluster All-Star Race that virtually instilled no passing and massive leads for the cars who jumped out in front.

The VHT compound will not solve all the erroneous ways of Charlotte Motor Speedway or other 1.5 mi tracks, but the hope is to have the success like Bristol.

Changes still to be made concerning the ‘clean air’ advantage that first place cars gain is the most pressing issue that cannot be fixed immediately.


VHT, formerly known as PJ1 TrackBite simply stands for ‘very high temperature’. Originally designed for space-bound and re-entry vehicles, VHT is a homemade traction substance, usually black in color — a resin for short.

This compound is hydrophobic and fire-retardant. If rain is present, or a car wrecks and catches on fire, the applied surfaces are unaffected, proving the reliability and strength of the product.

According to Jegs, VHT is sold for $49.32 per gallon and used by 55 gallon increments.

The hydrocarbon compound is laid to provide the option to run up top.

“There was agreement that this process would enhance the racing we see at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and ultimately would make for an exciting Coca-Cola 600.” said Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President of competition. With every change, NASCAR talks to drivers before-hand: “We go back to tracks and VHT is added and you say ‘make better tires’ but there’s nothing wrong with the tires,” said 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch, “It turns into drag racing. You have to warm it up and put heat into it. It makes it inconsistent if you’re running through it and then not running through it.”

Ryan Blaney’s Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford at Charlotte during practice Image via Aaron Blake

Second year driver Ryan Blaney chimed in on comparisons of VHT to Bristol:

“We’ll find out. It’s kind of unchartered waters, to be honest with you. Bristol is a lot different, a lot shorter race track, we’re not going as fast, a concrete race track. This will hopefully help it out, but I don’t know much about it.”

Adding VHT is the next alternative to last Saturday’s softer tire promotion. Goodyear’s new All-Star tire did not live up to the hype received as teams who used it complained about the long-run duration of the tire.

https://frontofficesports.com/goodyear-unveils-new-nascar-all-star-softer-race-tire-864827f2a1ba

As day turned into night, the racing surface became more slick and the newer tire proved to be obsolete.

NASCAR recognized this, and with Charlotte Motor Speedway, both agreed to take the next step.

In Thursday’s Cup practice, drivers said they do not think the VHT’s full potential will be reached in just the weekend.

“You get outside of that black and it’s pretty slick. I’m not sure we can groom the VHT in here in one weekend.” said All-Star Race winner Kyle Busch.

Consensus opinions say the VHT compound has proved no different, but as the weather warms up and more cars use the track, it is expected that the higher groove will work by Sunday.

The Coca-Cola 600 is set for 5:30 p.m. on FOX just after the largest military recognition in all of sports.

https://frontofficesports.com/goodyear-unveils-new-nascar-all-star-softer-race-tire-864827f2a1ba


Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1

If you liked this, click the???? below so other people will see this here on Medium.


Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Amazon NASCAR Ratings Down 17%, but Skew Younger

Prime Video averaged 2.16 million per race during its five-event stretch.

MLB’s Bold Bristol Plan: Inside the Renovation and Potential Records

Work accelerates to convert the massive motorsports venue for baseball.
Jun 8, 2025; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates with his team, holding up three fingers, one for each of his victories at Michigan International Speedway, after winning the FireKeepers Casino 400.

Judge Urges Michael Jordan, Co-Plaintiffs to Settle With NASCAR

Jordan’s racing team filed a co-suit in October alleging antitrust practices.

NASCAR Amazon Ratings Down 25% From 2024 Fox Broadcasts

The streamer is averaging just over 2 million viewers per race.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”

Betway Parent To Complete U.S. Exodus, Blames Tax Volatility

“Recent regulatory developments” were cited. 
Gabby Thomas
exclusive
June 12, 2025

Grand Slam Track Cancels Los Angeles Meet As $30 Million Track Start-Up..

Sources close to Grand Slam insist money is not an issue.
June 13, 2025

What Rolapp’s NFL Exit Means—and the Top Candidates to Replace Him

NFL media boss Brian Rolapp leaves; the league hunts for his replacement.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
May 23, 2025

New LPGA Commissioner: Women’s Golf ‘Really Hard’ to Find on TV

Former PGA of America COO Craig Kessler will lead the tour.
Donald Trump, Nick Saban
May 22, 2025

Proposed Trump College Sports Commission May Never Happen

The White House is not sure of its plans.
May 15, 2025

PGA Championship Tees Off With Free Food, Record Hospitality Sales

General admission includes unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Jun 12, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Blues center Ivan Barbashev (49) and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Boston Bruins in game seven of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden
May 15, 2025

The 10 Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets of All Time

Since the 1984–1985 NHL season, 10 squads have defied the odds.