Goodyear announced today it will utilize a softer right-side tire compound for the NASCAR Cup teams competing in next Saturday night’s crown jewel, Bass Pro Shops Night Race, September 13.
Goodyear Senior Project Manager for NASCAR Mark Keto said the tire company hopes the specific tire they have selected leads to a tire-management component in the teams’ overall race strategy.
“Usually in the fall race, we see higher track temps than in the spring, and the cars put more rubber down,” Keto said. “We decided to make a right-side compound adjustment to try to get more treadwear on a rubbered-in race track.”
Keto said the softer tire could be a match for Bristol’s “finicky” concrete and the combined unpredictable weather conditions.
“It’s softer, but not softer in the sense that we're trying to add a bunch of grip,” Keto explained. “It's softer in the sense that we're trying to get more tread wear. When we know the track takes rubber and is rubbered in, obviously, tire wear and tire fall off get reduced. We are trying to get more tread wear when the track has rubber on it.”
