NASCAR announces teams will be able to choose different tire options for the 2024 All-Star Race and the new race format at North Wilkesboro.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Alex, we're here in the NASCAR Cup Series Garage with NASCAR Senior Vice President
00:03John Probst.
00:05We are here at Talladega, but something new for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.
00:11We're announcing there's going to be a different tire option.
00:13So there's a prime tire and then a different tire.
00:16So what's the difference with the new option tire?
00:19Sure.
00:20So for the All-Star Race this year, we are going to introduce an option tire, which is
00:24a much softer tire than the prime tire, which will be taken there.
00:28And we would expect that tire to be probably about half a second a lap quicker.
00:33But the problem with that speed is going to be they're going to wear them out much quicker.
00:36So after about 20, 25 laps, we'd expect them to be hanging on to just kind of keep up with
00:41the prime tire.
00:43We know that NASCAR always works hand in hand with Goodyear to bring what tires we have
00:47at what racetrack.
00:48So for this, do you plan on mandating for the teams what tire they can use given the
00:53option at the All-Star Race?
00:55Yes and no.
00:56So they're going to get five sets of the prime tire and four sets of the option tire.
01:02They'll be able to run both tires in practice.
01:05And then after that, the only time we'll require certain tires to be on the car is for qualifying.
01:09We'll require them to be on the prime tire.
01:12And then for the All-Star cars, we'll require them to be on the option tire to start the
01:17race.
01:18And after that, it's on the team to manage it.
01:20And the reason we have them start on the option tire is the first stage is going to be too
01:24long for them to be able to use that option tire for the whole entire stint.
01:29So they'll more than likely have to pit in that first stint and or kind of nurse it to
01:33the end, which should create for a lot of entertaining scenarios to unfold in front
01:37of our fans.
01:38We know that NASCAR is always striving to improve and make racing better for our race
01:42fans.
01:43But we've seen some things implemented in exhibition races or in the All-Star Race that
01:48can then be in a points race.
01:50Is this an option for this tire?
01:52Never say never.
01:53I would say that we've often used the All-Star Race in the past to try some things.
01:58It's an opportunity for us without the pressure of points being paid.
02:01And certainly, like you had mentioned earlier, with the cooperation of Goodyear and our teams
02:05in this case, a chance to just try something.
02:08It's you know, when we were at Bristol, we certainly saw a very entertaining race there
02:11when tire wear became something they had to manage.
02:15And so it's just an opportunity for us to try it.
02:18If it does look good, we will certainly consider it.
02:22I would have to imagine North Wilkesboro, the excitement getting back to this for the
02:25All-Star.
02:26So as far as working with Goodyear, what does it look like for the next couple of weeks?
02:30Yeah, so right now, you know, we just completed a wheel force test at Wilkesboro.
02:35Selfishly, we held those tires back.
02:37We did not let the OEMs test those.
02:40We do feel like the unknown is something that the teams will have to deal with kind of in
02:46front of the fans, which makes it a lot more entertaining.
02:49We'll continue to work with Goodyear just on making sure production of those tires.
02:53Normally, tires for a race are made months in advance.
02:56This is one where we're making them weeks and days in advance.
03:00So we'll just continue to work with Goodyear on this tire.
03:02And then as well, looking to get even more aggressive with the short track tire.
03:06But it is a process.
03:07A lot of people lose sight of the fact that, you know, tire wear and fall off when we go
03:11to a racetrack is oftentimes like subject to things we don't control.
03:16The weather, the sun, not just if the sun, you know, from a temperature perspective is
03:21out, but if it's beating on the track, if it's not, clouds, like there's so many variables
03:25that it's a very tough problem to solve, but one that, you know, Goodyear's being aggressive
03:30and we like that.
03:31Thank you, John.
03:32Thank you.