Tires have been a shocking hot topic almost all season long in NASCAR. While NASCAR may have figured out its Short Track problem with softer tires. This past weekend we learned a softer Road Course tire may make a major difference as well. So, what is the current future of NASCAR’s tire changes?
NASCAR realized this year that tire wear can make for some interesting racing. After this spring’s Bristol race, NASCAR introduced an Option tire for use during the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.
The reason for this was tire strategy, management, and the elusive Short Track passing the NASCAR Next Gen has struggled to find. The Option tire is softer, allowing for more grip but wearing down quicker than the Prime or traditional tire.
Wilkesboro wasn’t what NASCAR had hoped for; however, the track’s new Surface could have been to blame. NASCAR reintroduced the Option Tire at Richmond in August. Teams had two sets of Option tires to use throughout the race.
While it wasn’t a roaring success, most felt NASCAR’s experiment worked on Richmond’s bumpy Surface. Many were hopeful for the future of the softer tires. A future we saw this past weekend at Watkins Glen.
While the softer road course tire NASCAR brought to the Glen this past weekend was debated amongst some fans, drivers raved about it for creating passing opportunities and leaving drivers with differing strategies.
So, with drivers calling it a success, and if NASCAR and Goodyear consider it a success, what is the known and possible future of different tire compounds in NASCAR?
Right now, NASCAR and Goodyear have no plans for next year. They could roll out an entirely new form of racing altogether at most Short Tracks and road courses, or they could play it safe like they have recently.
While some series have different compounds of tires to choose from throughout a race, NASCAR might be leaning more toward incorporating softer tires as the Short Track tire rather than cycling in an alternate set as they did at Richmond.
The Martinsville tire combo introduces a much softer tire to the already existing Option tire. This combo shows that Goodyear and NASCAR are prepared for anything to happen. That includes massive tire fall-off, as teams will receive an extra set of tires for the race.
With this combination at Martinsville and seemingly no Prime tires in sight, we could see a better Short Track product in the Playoffs. However, the rest of the Playoffs are still a big question. The most controversial choice for Goodyear and NASCAR to make would be bringing the Option tire to Phoenix.
If NASCAR were to bring the Option Tire to Phoenix, drivers like Christopher Bell would be worried about the legitimacy factor of that race.
However, this strategy problem could disappear if Goodyear and NASCAR introduced a set of tires like the ones used at Martinsville.
If Goodyear and NASCAR hold off after Martinsville and wait until 2025, they do have a long list of diverse Road Courses to continue testing on.
We don’t know what the plan after Martinsville is yet, but this is one of NASCAR boldest moves to fix issues with the Next Gen car. It looks like a success for now.
If NASCAR continues to roll these softer tires out slowly, we could enter a new era of tire management in NASCAR history. But if NASCAR jumps the gun on next year, it could be a major mistake.
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