Last week, we saw more loose wheels at Texas than any other race this season.
Next on the schedule is Bristol, where there were plenty of loose wheels last year.
So, it raises the question: What will pit crews’ strategy be this weekend?
Teams that are willing to gamble will reap the rewards as long as tires stay tight. Hitting four lug nuts over five is much faster, and spots can definitely be made up on pit road.
However, the risk-versus-reward scenario at Bristol is much higher than at other tracks. The reward is a fast pit stop, but a loose wheel can put you multiple laps down at a short track.
At a 1.5-mile track, teams can recover from a loose wheel — but not at Bristol. So, don’t expect many crews to gamble on four lug nuts when Bristol presented so many problems last year.
For more pit crew news, visit PitTalks.com.