Anthony Burroughs: “There is quite a bit more tire flats than what it used to be.”
I’ve seen countless tire failures while touring with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. It can happen to the leader or the driver in last. And it happens suddenly.
It could happen on lap 1 or lap 40. The guy on the bottom lane or the guy on the top could be bitten. There appears to be an increase in them and the cautions that follow. But why?
Clint Bowyer Racing is the only two-car team on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. They will field machines for Don O’Neal and Josh Richards in 2019. When there’s an increase in tire failures, it’s twice as noticeable for CBR.
Anthony Burroughs
Have you seen an increase in flat tires? Because you guys have a two car team. If so, it would be twice as noticeable.
“It depends. It seems like there’s more rocks at a lot of places we go,” Anthony Burroughs, team manager for Clint Bowyer Racing stated.
“I think that’s the biggest contribution to them. The rocks are cutting the tires down. And we’re running a lot faster too. So, you have more wheel spin. But, I think the main thing is the rocks.”
“There is quite a bit more tire flats than what it used to be.”
When did you see it spike?
“It’s been coming the last couple years. In 2018, it’s way worse than what it’s been.”
Why are there so many flat tires in dirt late model racing?
Is it a combination of the cars going faster plus the rocks? Or just the rocks?
“I think so. We’re right on the edge of tire pressures. Then, the rocks.”
“There’s so many different variables. Then, your body gets into the tire. That’s causing a lot of it too.”
Are the bodies tighter to the wheels than they used to be? I’m looking at old pictures and I’m thinking, yes.
“Yeah, a little bit. On the right sides for sure.”
But, like I said, between the rocks and getting up into somebody. Or getting up into the cushion. The spring steel coming off and getting into the tire.”
“Then, other places we go, you just wheel spin so much that you just blow them out.”
“It’s certainly nothing the tire manufacture is doing. It’s nothing that we’re doing, for the most part. It’s just a variable that’s come about, all the sudden that we haven’t fought in years past.”
Changes?
Would you like to see a test of a new tire? Or a change of some sort?
“I think the tire rule we got now is excellent. Nope, I really wouldn’t do anything different on all that.”
“Hooiser does a good job. It’s not their fault that we’re having flats. I don’t know why it’s happening, really. It’s just something nobody could help.”
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Josh Richards to Clint Bowyer Racing
