NASCAR Returns to Action, With Option Tire at Richmond Raceway
The long-awaited and hyped option tire race is upon us as NASCAR returns to racing action following a two-week Olympic break. The Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway for the second time this season. This time however will have plenty of strategy, as the series will allow two different sets of tires to be used during the Cook Out 400.
The standard Goodyear tire will be used points-paying, which NASCAR has officially labeled as the “Prime” tire, which is a harder rubber compound with potentially less grip, making it last longer. As for the second tire compound, which is officially labeled the “option” tire. That tire has a much softer rubber, for more short-term grip and speed, but won’t last as long as the other tire.
For the first time in a points paying race – #NASCAR teams have two choices available to race with at Richmond! Which tire are you most excited to see drivers use this weekend? The yellow “prime” tire or the red “option” tire? pic.twitter.com/QN6BlmYG5U
— Goodyear (@goodyear) August 8, 2024
It will be interesting to see, which tire will prevail in strategy. Here are some keynotes for Sunday’s race according to NASCAR.com to keep in mind. Each team will get six sets of standard tires and two sets of option tires. To throw in yet another wrinkle, standard wet-weather tires will also be available if need be.
The All-Star race earlier this season saw the use of both option tires. That race proved that it didn’t truly matter which tire you had on. Especially if you had the lead you couldn’t be passed. Joey Logano took full advantage of that at North Wilkesboro, can he use the strategy again at Richmond?
NBC’s Todd Gordon and Steve Letarte took to X to talk about the possible pit strategies for Sunday’s race.
Go inside the mind of a crew chief.
What could strategy look like at @RichmondRaceway with the option tire? pic.twitter.com/57GlHobUZp
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 8, 2024
Goodyear Director of Racing Speaks on Why Now?
Many will speculate with only four races left until the NASCAR playoffs begin, as to why NASCAR and Goodyear would choose to try the option tire this late in the season. It is what it is, and Goodyear’s Director of Racing Greg Strucker defended the decision according to Jayski.com.
” As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build on the results of the Option tire used at the All-Star race,” Strucker said. “We expect the Option tire to provide a significant lap time gain over the Prime, but fall-off will be greater, and tire management will be important in taking advantage of it at the right time.”
