NASCAR announced a rule change Wednesday in how it will officiate teams’ use of wet-weather tires moving forward, beginning with this weekend’s slate of races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
At designated ovals approved for wet-weather racing, NASCAR officials will now allow teams to use their own discretion when deciding whether to switch from Goodyear Racing’s wet-weather tires to slicks, shifting a responsibility that had previously belonged to NASCAR.
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NASCAR officials will still determine whether a race begins under wet-weather conditions. But as track conditions change, teams will now have the option to switch to slick tires. Previously, Section 8.6.2.B of the NASCAR Rule Book stated: “Once the race has started, NASCAR will determine if and when a tire configuration change will be required.” That responsibility now shifts to the teams to determine which tire best suits the conditions.
After the green flag is waved to begin the race, if NASCAR issues a caution flag for rain and deems the racing surface damp, the teams will then have the choice whether to continue on wet-weather tires or slicks. If NASCAR deems pit road as damp, any pit stops under the caution flag will be non-competitive. That means positions will not change on pit road, and cars exiting the pits will be ordered behind cars that stayed out, if applicable. Green-flag stops, however, remain competitive. “We always listen to fan and industry feedback, and if there’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference that benefits the racing, we won’t waste time acting on it," NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell said. "There were a lot of strong opinions after New Hampshire, and Ben Kennedy, John Probst and the entire Competition team went to work. Giving teams the freedom to make their own calls in wet-weather situations on ovals is another example of how we’re working to improve and put on the best possible show for our fans.”The change aligns NASCAR’s wet-weather racing policy on designated ovals with its procedure on road and street courses. The relevant Section 8.6.1.D in the NASCAR Rule Book states: “Once the race has started, the crew chief will be responsible for which tire configuration to use for the remainder of the race.”
NASCAR’s wet-weather oval procedure has continued to evolve since the tires first appeared competitively at the 2023 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Richmond Raceway in March 2024 marked their first use in a points-paying Cup Series race on an oval, when the field started on wet-weather tires before NASCAR mandated a switch to slicks at Lap 30. Later that June, wet-weather tires helped NASCAR complete the final 86 laps of the Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway following a lengthy rain delay.
Later in 2024, NASCAR adjusted its procedures to give teams more control over their wet-weather tire allotment. Under natural cautions while the track remained under wet-weather conditions, teams could choose whether to change from one set of wet tires to another. NASCAR, however, still determined when conditions warranted a switch from wet-weather tires to slicks.
The latest example came Aug. 23 at New Hampshire, when rainy conditions prompted the Cup Series field to start on wet-weather tires. As the track dried, NASCAR called a competition caution after 40 laps and directed teams to switch to slicks.
After further discussion throughout the industry, while officials will still make the determination if the track is wet for teams to have the option to put on the wet-weather tires, NASCAR will now allow teams to decide for themselves when to switch over to slick tires without a competition caution to intervene. “We’ve been very deliberate about making any changes to the wet-weather tire procedure on ovals, and we believe now is the right time to take this next step," John Probst, president, NASCAR event management, said. "You never root for rain, but if we do need to battle wet-weather conditions this weekend or at other future short tracks, it will be fascinating to see how the teams put the tires to work and the strategy they will bring to the race track. The collaboration with the race teams was again fantastic, and we hope this is a welcome change for our fans.”Bristol, Iowa Speedway, New Hampshire, Phoenix Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, North Wilkesboro and Richmond are among the ovals approved for wet-weather tires when conditions necessitate their use. Bristol and Iowa both had wet-weather sets available for Cup Series teams earlier this season.
The NASCAR Cup Series continues The Chase presented by Mobil 1 with its third race Saturday night at Bristol (7:30 ET, USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opens The Chase in its return to action Thursday at Bristol (8 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, NASCAR Racing Network Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), while the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series continues its Chase on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, The CW, ESPN Unlimited, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).