NASCAR will start on wet weather tires for Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Tonight’s NASCAR Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond will start on wet weather tires in hopes of getting this race started sooner due to the rain. This package is slightly different than it was last year for short tracks.

Drivers do not have wiper blades or mud flaps. However, they do have defoggers and wet weather tires. These tires cannot be used in the rain. So, now that the rain is gone and conditions on the track are damp NASCAR can use these tires at Richmond.

This allows NASCAR to get on the track and race sooner than they would waiting on jet dryers alone. As the cars race around, the track will dry off. Expect a competition caution to be thrown so teams can switch to the regular slicks.

UPDATE: NASCAR has instructed the teams to utilize the wet-weather package for the start of tonight's race.

Wet-weather tires are being installed on the cars at @RichmondRaceway. pic.twitter.com/NAshIA3Y9o

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 31, 2024

Those tires are going to give drivers a chance to race a bit as the track finishes drying off. It will also throw a wrench into the strategy teams use in today’s race. Crew chiefs are going to figure things out and have their teams ready to execute whatever strategy they deploy.

NASCAR night race at Richmond and we are going to have wet weather tires to start. Things are going to get interesting in this one, folks. Now we just have to wait and see if the rain returns, because that could make turn this into a long night at the race track.

NASCAR at Richmond gets a little weather prerace

As is stands right now, I think NASCAR gets this race in tonight. There have been showers off and on in the lead-up to the race. However, as time ticks by, the chance of rain drops more and more. That is good news for fans wanting to go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight.

NASCAR has put on a lot of great races at Richmond. Given how this race is going to start, it should be a memorable event. After an exciting short track race (with the intermediate package) at Bristol, fans are likely looking forward to today’s race.

The thing is, this track is not like Bristol. It is pavement, not concrete. Richmond does not have resin on the track. It is a different package, intermediate versus short track/road course. That will make today’s race much different than the Bristol race.

Easter night at Richmond Raceway and we have NASCAR racing lined up and ready to go. Get ready for a strange start to the Toyota Owners 400. It should be fun though.