New tire package to go with new aero for All-Star Race

A new aero package for the Monster Energy All-Star Race will see Goodyear bring a different tire setup to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Cup Series teams will run a right-side tire code that had been used as the “option” tire last year in this race. The option tire was a softer tire compound that provided more grip and speed.

As for the left-side tire code Goodyear is bringing, it is new to the 1.5-mile speedway. However, teams have experience with this code, running it last weekend in Kansas.

“Our 2018 tire package for Charlotte features a revised left-side construction and a more tractive right-side compound than was our ‘prime’ tire last year. In fact, this right-side was what we ran as our ‘option’ tire in 2017,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing.

“Both factors will lead to more grip for the cars, which will help with the close quarters racing expected with this rules package. The All-Star Race is the perfect time to try an alternate package on the Cup cars and combining it with our new, standard Charlotte tire recommendation will give NASCAR and the industry a good data point to evaluate.”

Teams will have nine sets of tires for Saturday night’s race.

To revitalize the racing, NASCAR and officials from Charlotte Motor Speedway decided on the aero package that was announced last month. It was the one that received high praise after the Xfinity Series cars competed with it last year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The package features restrictor plates, a six-inch spoiler with “ears” on each end, as well as aero ducts on the front of the car and the 2014 style splitter.