Tire set limit at Homestead – #4 Crew Chief: “It’s concerning to me.”

Only 9 sets are available for Sunday’s race – Down from 12 in previous seasons

In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the championship. In 2016, Kyle Busch won the championship. Both times, Childers believes the winning car used 11 sets of tires.

“Last week, since we got locked in at Texas… I was able to watch the 2014 race, 2015 race and the 2016 race,” #4 crew chief Rodney Childers stated to NASCAR.com.

“The excitement of those races was at the end with people putting tires on. In ’14, we put 11 sets of tires on. I think the #18 put 11 sets of tires on last year to stay in contention.”

“It’s concerning to me. I don’t feel like there’s enough tires. The last thing you wanna do is run out of tires with 40 laps to go and not be able to do anything or race for a championship at the end.”

“I’ve been trying to push a little bit. See if we can’t get an extra set for the race. It’s gunna be a huge concern going into it.”

Kevin Harvick - Homestead-Miami
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 16: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2014 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Goodyear Tires
Homestead-Miami Speedway

Set limits: Cup: 4 sets for practice, 1 set for qualifying and 9 sets for the race;

Tire Codes: Left-side — D-4650; Right-side — D-4746

Tire Circumference: Left-side — 87.56 in. (2,224 mm); Right-side — 88.62 in. (2,251 mm)

Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front — 19 psi; Left Rear — 19 psi; Right Front — 49 psi; Right Rear — 45 psi

Goodyear Racing Tire
Homestead-Miami Speedway

“Homestead has quietly become one of the highest wear tracks that we race on in NASCAR,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing.  “We have a new tire set-up compared to last year that not only takes that into account, but also balances the lower downforce world in which we operate.”

“This is the same set-up we ran at Chicagoland to start to Cup playoffs, as Homestead and Chicagoland have traditionally been aligned in our tire lineup.  What we’ve done with this 2017 tire package is give the cars more grip with the compounds on both sides of the car, while staying with a multi-zone right-side to handle to loads and speeds we see at Homestead.”

“One other thing of note about this weekend, is the reduction of race sets for Cup teams compared to last year at Homestead.  Cup teams will have nine race sets in addition to the qualifying set they start the race on, as compared to 12 race sets plus one transferred practice set last year.  That will bring tire management into play on race day.”

Rodney Childers
#4 Crew Chief

Links

Kevin Harvick | Homestead-Miami | NASCAR

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