NASCAR will allow teams to make wet-weather tire decisions under caution

This weekend at Richmond Raceway, we are going to see NASCAR let the Cup Series teams control their own tire decisions. In a wet-weather tire situation, teams will now be allowed to pit under caution to change tires or stay out for track position.

Opening up options for teams under wet-weather conditions is important. Once we get to competitive pit stops during these situations, then we will have more variables and more racing.

This does not mean, in the event wet-weather tires are used, that teams can pick between dry and wet tires. NASCAR will mandate whether the tires will be used and if and when they allow teams to make the decision to swap back to slicks.

Here’s the explainer from Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.

Just to clarify, this doesn’t mean some teams can be on dry tires and others on wets. They would all still have to be on wets. The difference is they don’t all have to change them at the same time and can stay out for track position, etc. https://t.co/WFYhxDfyFI

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 8, 2024

Wet-weather races on ovals is very new. It is not something that has a lot of data at the moment. So, every time NASCAR does it, it adds new information and makes the races better.

Hopefully, one day, we will see teams able to swap from slicks to treaded wet-weather tires and then back again on their own volition. However, that won’t happen for a while.

When NASCAR had the wet tires at New Hampshire, it was awesome. Drivers were able to search for the best grip and speed on the track. They were all over the track making moves and trying to pass.

NASCAR will have ‘option’ tire available

So, the news about the wet-wether tires is cool. But NASCAR fans will likely be more interested in the option tire and how it changes the weekend. That’s right, the option red-walled tires from North Wilkesboro are back.

These option tires are a softer compound. That is to give them more grip on the track, more speed, but they won’t last as long as the regular “prime” tires. NASCAR is hoping the softer tire fixes passing issues the Next Gen car has on short tracks.

Teams are being given more chances to get creative. I think that is good. With the pros and cons of the Next Gen car, it will take tinkering to get as close to what NASCAR wants as possible.

Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway brings us back into the NASCAR season. Tire talk will be plentiful, and we only have a month until the playoffs begin. Now is the time to make or break for many of the drivers in the Cup Series.

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