When NASCAR drivers take the Richmond circuit on August 11 for one of the last Cup Series races of the regular season, they will be allowed to use an option tire.
Senior vice president of completion for NASCAR Elton Sawyer discussed the choice to use the option tire, which began during the All-Star Race, on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“The outcome of the All-Star Race wasn’t really what we were looking for. Sawyer stated, “The test there was very encouraging.”
“..In the future, Goodyear tested the tire at Iowa in advance of the event and had the optional tire available there as well. There was a chance for every testing team to test that tire. It took roughly 15 laps to complete. It was worn out.
“Going ahead, you see Richmond, which is located between North Wilkesboro, Iowa, and it is obviously a very different surface in terms of speed.
We had the need to act aggressively. We have been discussing it for a few years now. We experimented with several aero components and pieces for our short-track package, but the results weren’t quite what we were hoping for. That has been demonstrated by tires.
More on the NASCAR option tire making its Cup Series regular season debut
The addition of the alternative tire is not shocking because Goodyear Global event Tires division general manager Stu Grant intimated in June that there would be another event with a tire-choice format.
Prior to the Coca-Cola 600, Grant stated, “This whole option tire thing is pretty exciting strategy stuff for us and for the sport,” according to NASCAR.com.
“You’ve seen alternative tires in other racing formats, but NASCAR hasn’t really embraced them, and until recently, there hasn’t been much discussion about them. You say, okay, let’s try to improve short-track racing a little bit.
After that, the option tire became more of a topic of conversation among the drivers, crew chiefs, and NASCAR. The entire North Wilkesboro project came together quite rapidly, so we decided to give it a shot. It’s good that we have that data point. Now that we have that piece of information, we just proceed.
Teams may use up to six sets of prime tires and two sets of alternative tires. When the drivers compete in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11 at 6 p.m. ET, fans will be able to witness the option tires. The NBC Sports App and USA Network will carry all of the action.
