Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams will get 10 sets of new tires for Sunday’s race follow plea to sanction
Hours ago, NASCAR has announced that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams will be given an extra set of tires for the race.
Ahead of the weekend, NASCAR announced that only 9 sets would be given to NASCAR Cup Series teams. In years past, teams were given 12 sets. That’s a significant decrease.
At the same time, the race track hasn’t become any less abrasive. If anything, it eats through tires quicker. Many drivers and teams will say that Homestead-Miami Speedway has become the most abrasive track on the circuit.
Since mid week, three of the four championship crew chiefs have been pleading for more sets. #4 crew chief Rodney Childers stated earlier in the week:
“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.”
Related: Rodney Childers talks Homestead tire limits
Team began forming plans. Denny Hamlin states, “The fastest car won’t win the race.” He was saying that tire management would be too big of a deal to go out there and turn fast lap after fast lap. Hamlin was anticipating a tire management race.
NASCAR has listened. They have increased the limit from 9 to 10 sets for the race. That’s new sets. Teams will start the race on scuffs used from qualifying.
Paraphrasing, NASCAR basically stated, “We didn’t want it to become a factor in the championship race.”
Related: NASCAR Penalty Data: Most frequent violators
