NASCAR has officially revised its wet weather tyre procedure for ovals that permit racing in the rain. Effective immediately, teams will be given full freedom to decide when to switch from grooved tyres to slicks. The decision comes after heavy criticism from fans and teams regarding the race at New Hampshire earlier this month.
Previously, NASCAR would throw a competition caution when the track was deemed sufficiently dry, then allow teams to complete non-competitive pit stops to change tyres. That procedure was seen as killing strategy and reducing on-track excitement. Now, once the race starts, NASCAR will only determine whether the track is wet. If a yellow is thrown for rain and the track is declared wet, teams can choose whether to switch to wet weather tyres or stay out.
There is a caveat: if the pit lane is considered damp, pit stops under caution will remain non-competitive. That means the running order will be frozen for cars that elect to pit. The change takes effect at this weekend’s night race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The move follows criticism of the recent race at New Hampshire, where the timing of the competition caution and non-competitive pit stops were heavily scrutinized. “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,” said NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell. “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.”
Wet weather racing is relatively new for the NASCAR Cup Series. After developing a suitable tyre, NASCAR held its first wet Cup race in 2023 during the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Since then, the sanctioning body has been cautious about changes. “We’ve been very deliberate about making any changes to the wet-weather tyre procedure on ovals, and we believe now is the right time to take this next step,” said John Probst, NASCAR event management president. “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.”
Ovals approved for wet weather racing include Bristol, Iowa, New Hampshire, Phoenix, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, and Richmond. With the new rule, teams will need to read the track conditions more carefully and take risks. Tyre strategy will be crucial, especially at short tracks like Bristol, known for its tight and fast nature.
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol takes place on Sunday at 9:30am AEST. It will be the first test of the new rule. If rain falls, we’ll see how teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing make bold calls. Will some dare to stay on slicks on a wet track? Or will they play it safe with wets? Either way, a new era of wet-weather strategy in NASCAR begins now.
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