I've worked a lot of hours next to Lil'Joe the main man at Goodyear, he does most of the grove decissions him self. Yes they do grove for mudd on the short track, they also build the tires with softer rubber compounds. But for a 1000 mile race? How much will be like short coarse mudd? All those cut corners will start tearing off really fast. I ran some Goodyears that did not last 100 miles for that same reason, too much ciping in the lugs. Besides front tires need lateral groves for steering. Maybe they cut them for braking who knows.