NASCAR announces option tire will return to spring race at Phoenix

This season, NASCAR will bring back the option tires for the spring race at Phoenix. This will add a wrinkle to the race for teams to adjust strategies. We saw what the tire could do last season at tracks like Richmond and it was a fairly positive result.

The “option tire” will be a soft compound designed to create more grip and faster lap times. At least, temporarily. The idea is that a driver gets a temporary boost in speed but at a cost if they choose to stay out too long.

Primary tires will ideally hold up longer than the NASCAR option tires. Goodyear is hoping that they see similar results to that race at Richmond a year ago. Fans will be able to tell the tires apart by the red Goodyear lettering on the sidewalls.

NEWS: NASCAR officials announce the option tire will return for the spring race at @phoenixraceway.

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) January 22, 2025

If the option tire ends up working at Phoenix in the spring, NASCAR may bring it to the championship in November. Only in November, it would be the primary tire, and there would be no option tire.

NASCAR is giving teams six sets of the primary and two sets of the option tires for the race. Teams will be given a primary set and an option set for practice. That way they can collect data for both and determine the best way to use the tires on Sunday.

The Shriners Children’s 500 will be Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM on FOX.

NASCAR championship on softer option tire?

Ever since cutting back on horsepower and then introducing the Next Gen car with all of its dirty air problems, short track and road course racing has taken a dive. There isn’t any good passing and the action on track is lackluster.

NASCAR has been looking for any solution besides adding horsepower. That is for many reasons, most of all, potential new manufacturers aren’t interested in making high-powered V8 engines anymore. But the tires have opened things up.

Having a softer tire, one that degrades relatively quickly creates passing opportunities. Drivers will have to learn how to save rubber, learn how to give rather than take all the time, and it will create passing in the races.

NASCAR wants this option tire to work. They want the championship race at Phoenix to impress people and draw eyeballs to the product on track. So, let’s see how this soft tire does come March.