NASCAR
Option Tires Highlight New Procedures in 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race
Less than a month away from the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race, the format was unveiled today. The 200 lap distance around historic North Wilkesboro Speedway remains, with a few new elements. Teams will be given a choice between prime and option tires. These strategic decisions have intentions of creating new challenges in the $1 million race.
There is a chance that teams will use any one of three different tire compounds in the All-Star Race. A “prime tire” will be the baseline, built for last month’s Goodyear tire test at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The all new “option tire” will be a similar racing slick, but constructed out of special rubber meant for the wet weather tire. This alternate choice is meant to be softer with more grip and faster wear. Lastly, teams will utilize grooved “wet weather” tires if needed. The wet weather tires debuted last year in the All-Star heat races. ‘Goodyear Eagle’ lettering will be yellow on the prime tires, red on the option tires, and white on the wet weather tires.
More details and rules on the tires themselves are as follows:
- Teams will be allotted nine sets of tires for the event weekend.
- For practice, qualifying, the heat races, and the Open, teams will be given three sets of prime tires and two sets of option tires.
- For the All-Star Race, teams will have two sets each of primes and options.
- All four tires on the car must be of the same type at all times.
- Only the prime tire will be used during both qualifying sessions.
- For practice, the heat races, and the NASCAR All-Star Open, teams will have the option to start on any type of tire.
- All teams will start on the option tire for the All-Star Race.
“After a successful return to North Wilkesboro Speedway last season, we are thrilled to bring the action back to one of NASCAR’s most iconic and storied tracks,” said John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. “The spotlight will certainly be on the crew chiefs and drivers as they plan their tire strategy for this special race. In testing, the softer tires were significantly faster — but wore much quicker. Goodyear has been an incredible partner in this All-Star element. It will be fascinating to watch how crew chiefs and drivers manage this unique challenge.”
The All-Star Race itself remains a 200 lap affair, with cautions being thrown at laps 100 and 150. Lap 100 will feature a mandatory four-tire pit stop. Teams will have the option to put on prime or option tires at each break. All caution and green flag laps will count, with NASCAR Overtime rules also in play.
“This format will challenge drivers, crew chiefs and pit crews from Friday through Sunday, and strategy will play a huge part in who takes home the $1 million prize,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “The All-Star Race has always been a place for innovation, from its very creation in 1985 to racing under the lights, unique paint schemes and double-file restarts. Now we have an old-school, short track format developed by Dale Jr. plus a new twist on tires courtesy of NASCAR and Goodyear. Kevin Harvick gave great input on stepping up the impact of qualifying. Throw it all together at North Wilkesboro and we’ve got something special for the 40th running of the NASCAR All-Star Race.”
All-Star Race week is inching ever so closer to reality once again. Following race 10 of the 2024 season, 17 drivers have locked their spot in the big money show.
All-Star weekend kicks off Friday with the All-Star Open qualifying and All-Star qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge. 2024 will combine traditional qualifying alongside the popular Pit Crew Challenge. Drivers will take the green flag, run one lap at speed, and on lap two pit for a four-tire stop. When the pit stop is complete, cars will exit pit road and race back to the checkered flag. The measured qualifying time will be the total from green to checkered flag. The pole sitter will start first for their heat race and the All-Star.
The pit crew with the fastest stop during the All-Star qualifying attempt (without penalties) is the winner of the Pit Crew Challenge. Results from the Pit Crew Challenge results will determine pit picking order.
Saturday night will feature two 60-lap heat races, setting the All-Star Race starting lineup for those already locked in. There will be caution at lap 30 in each heat race, where teams must take a four-tire pit stop. Heat 1 will set the inside row, and Heat 2 results will order the outside row.
The weekend culminates Sunday night with the All-Star Open and All-Star Race. The Open will send its top two finishers to the main event. One final fan vote winner will be the final driver locked in.
The NASCAR All-Star Race will air live on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 19.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
