Why Gateway Is So Hard on NASCAR Cup Series Brakes

Brake failures and fading pressure heavily impacted championship contenders as teams grappled with long straightaways and heavy braking zones under the sport’s short-track rules package.

Championship Contenders Hit by Rotor and Brake Failures

Several drivers racing within the Chase for the Championship encountered severe mechanical trouble during the event at Gateway. Zane Smith suffered a hard impact at the end of Stage 2 due to a rotor failure while driving for Front Row Motorsports. Ryan Blaney crashed into the frontstretch wall on Lap 155 while running in the sixth position, and Chase Elliott later sustained a brake failure that collected Chase Briscoe on Lap 214. Chris Buescher, another lower-seeded Chase contender, also crashed due to a brake failure, bringing out the final caution with three laps remaining in the race. Throughout the afternoon, multiple drivers reported a long pedal and fading brake pressure.

Team Setups and Cooling Demands at Gateway

According to Jonathan Hassler, crew chief for Ryan Blaney, his team ultimately did not cool their brakes enough with their setup. Gateway has always been a place that is tough on brakes, Hassler told NASCAR.com after the race, noting that teams knew there was added demand with the current car package and tried to remain conservative without providing sufficient cooling. Championship leader Denny Hamlin stated that he was also close to a failure by the end of the event, reporting a long pedal during the final two restarts as an indication that a failure was imminent.

Other teams managed the conditions successfully. Bubba Wallace reported no brake changes whatsoever by the finish while challenging for a top-five position, noting that his group had worked extensively on their brake package over the previous six years to reach a strong operational spot. William Byron finished fourth with assistance from crew chief Rudy Fugle, who monitored brake temperatures and encouraged the driver to use less pump and wait for cautions to avoid losing a rotor. Fugle noted on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that brake issues have affected various manufacturers and teams across the field at tracks with long straightaways like Gateway, Phoenix, and Nashville.