Watch as NASCAR runs wet weather tires on the high banked half-mile oval
Spire Motorsports, Legacy Motor Club and RFK Racing ran a NASCAR test today at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.
Watch the Bristol rain tire test video below.
In 2021, NASCAR begin testing rain tires on short tracks. Those tests began on flatter tracks like Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway.
NASCAR rain tire test concluded for oval short tracks (Video)
For 2023, NASCAR opened the rule book to begin racing on wet tires in damp conditions on short tracks under 1 mile. Unlike wet racing on road course, the short track rain package doesn’t utilize wipers, mud flaps or lights.
NASCAR still doesn’t run on ovals in wet conditions. However, racing in damp conditions drastically reduces the time is takes to restart an event due to a rain shower.
Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway are both currently excluded from that option. The high banking creates some concerns.
However, today NASCAR is testing out the package on the high banks of Bristol. They deployed a water truck to spray the track before the cars took to the half-mile.
Legacy Motor Club stated via social media, “Our No. 43 team has made the trek across state lines to test wet weather tires. With the hopes of not having to use them.”
NASCAR Rule Changes for 2023: Stage racing update, wall riding, mufflers, rain tires and more
Walls return to classic red and white
In other news at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Spring race will see the walls return to their traditional look. The walls are being painted white, like the were years ago.
A red stripe is being added along the bottom of the wall. That’s to allow drivers to spot where the track ends and walls begin.
The track is looking to create a throwback style event for the Spring race. The walls will then return to black for the night race later in the year.
“We looked back at the footage from the first Food City 500 in 1992 and those were the colors on the track walls, so we thought it would be a fun touch for the fans to recreate that,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager, Bristol Motor Speedway.
He added, “There have been so many iconic moments for the sport of NASCAR to take place on this track and inside these walls, we hope to be able to share more of those ‘wow’ moments with fans on Sunday afternoon, March 17.”
The Spring race will be run on the concrete after several years of the event being run on dirt.
