NASCAR announced Tuesday that it will use this year’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway to experiment new tires that Goodyear developed in hopes of having quicker wear than Goodyear’s current slick tires.
The new tire uses rubber typically used for rain tires. NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports that the sanctioning body is looking to acquire information they can potentially use in points races moving forward.
“Whether it’s formats or it’s just opportunities to test, right, it’s an exhibition race, so you don’t wanna do those things in points events,” Phelps said. “And I think that again — if there’s things that we can glean from that, that we can learn and use moving forward — that’s exactly why we’re doing it.”
Drivers in the May 19 main event at North Wilkesboro will have two sets of “prime” tires — traditional slicks that were used during a tire test at the racetrack last month, according to Pockrass. They will also have two sets of non-grooved “option” tires. These tires use the rubber from rain tires NASCAR uses on short tracks and road courses.
NASCAR announces new format for All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway
The All-Star Race will be 200 laps, with all laps counting and overtime rules in effect. Each team must begin on option tires. Teams must make a four-tire pit stop during a Lap 100 caution. Teams can choose to stay out or pit during a Lap 150 caution. What tires they put on during the pit stops will be the teams’ decision, Pockrass wrote.
“At our North Wilkesboro test, there was significantly more lap-time fall-off with what has become the option tire than we had with the prime,” Goodyear director of racing Greg Stucker said. “We have been working very hard on our short-track tire package and we wanted to evaluate something that is more aggressive. The All-Star race format, in a non-points setting, is the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Drivers have been complimentary of NASCAR’s plan to experiment with new tires during the All-Star Race.
“I think they need to swing for it,” Josh Berry said. “They need to get on the other side of it and see if they can learn anything and see if it makes a difference or not. Those are all things that we definitely need to do.
“We need to do it sooner rather than later. I think they need to get aggressive with it. I think the All-Star Race is going to be a good opportunity to do that. … It’s going to be tricky with it being a repave.”
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