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Other NASCAR moments traction compound would have come in handy
By @nascarcasm and Steve Luvender | Published: July 24, 2018 10
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Sometimes, NASCAR applies a traction compound adhesive (often called “PJ1,” Track Bite,” “VHT,” or simply “sticky stuff”) to promote multi-groove racing — most recently, last weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway contained two sticky grooves. Following a bonkers bump-and-run finish, we imagined some other scenarios in recent memory that might have turned out a bit differently had traction compound been a factor.
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Sometimes, NASCAR applies a traction compound adhesive (often called “PJ1,” Track Bite,” “VHT,” or simply “sticky stuff”) to promote multi-groove racing — most recently, last weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway contained two sticky grooves. Following a bonkers bump-and-run finish, we imagined some other scenarios in recent memory that might have turned out a bit differently had traction compound been a factor.
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Perhaps this track worker’s knees wouldn’t have buckled if the Atlanta Motor Speedway track surface had been just a bit stickier that day.
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Bryan Silas could have escaped some embarrassment climbing out of his burning truck if he had a bit of track bite tacked to his hands.
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Kyle Busch often wonders what could have been had the infield of the Charlotte Motor Speedway track surface been coated in “track bite” the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. caught him tripping.
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Clint Bowyer might have enjoyed the benefits of a sticky track when he piled his bike into the wall after winning the 2016 NASCAR Holeshot Challenge.
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Had PJ1 been applied to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2015, Alex Bowman’s car might have burned to a crisp a bit less the day a track safety worker tripped over a fire extinguisher.
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Morgan Shepherd’s known for bringing joy to race fans and competitors by roller skating down pit road on race day — but everyone might have a bit more confidence in his skills had he not tripped and fell to the ground that one time. If only.
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In 2017 Brickyard 400 practice, Kevin Harvick’s spotter was escorted from the track after dropping a sandwich from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway pagoda. Had someone coated the bread in PJ1, history might have been rewritten that fateful day.
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After an impressive win in the Xfinity Series at Nashville Superspeedway in 2009, Kyle Busch won a beautiful Sam Bass-painted Gibson Les Paul as the race’s trophy, which he immediately proceeded to smash to smithereens in Victory Lane. Had someone slathered the guitar in the “sticky stuff”, the guitar would have lived to see the light of day.
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When Denny Hamlin famously fled from his lobster-trophy at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2017, a little bit of traction compound applied to Victory Lane could have provided a bit more speed in Hamlin’s escape.