Cup Series teams to have option tire at Richmond

NASCAR Cup Series teams will have the option tire to use during next month’s race at Richmond Raceway, the series announced Tuesday.

It will be the same premise as the NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro Speedway, where teams will have both the Goodyear primary and option tires. The option tire is made from the same compound as the wet weather tires.

Richmond (Aug. 11) will be the first time teams have had an option on tires during a points-paying race, and NASCAR will not mandate when teams have to use the tires. But all four tires must match when on the race car.

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“As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build upon the results of the option tire used at the All-Star Race,” said Goodyear director of racing Greg Stucker. “The option tire uses our wet weather tread compound, and we saw how that compound performed in the drying conditions of the opening laps at Richmond in the spring.

“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.”

There will be three sets of option tires available at Richmond. However, teams must use one set during practice that can carry over into the race. Teams will be allotted six sets of primary tires for the race.

NASCAR will expand its practice at Richmond because of the tire changes. Cup teams will have a single 45-minute session before qualifying.

As it was at North Wilkesboro, the primary tire will feature yellow Goodyear lettering. The option tire will have the red Goodyear lettering.