March NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix to have primary and option tires for teams

NASCAR Cup teams will have a primary tire and option tire to choose from when they race at Phoenix Raceway in March, NASCAR said in a Rulebook update Wednesday.

This is part of NASCAR’s continued use of an option tire in select races. The move is being made to improve racing on the short track. The option tire is intended to provide faster speeds but wears faster than the primary tire.

The start of a season brings new hope and can bring even more to these drivers.

The option tire (indicated by red lettering on the sidewall) was used for the first time at the May 2024 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The option tire debuted at Richmond in August 2024 for a Cup points race.

A NASCAR spokesman said that if Goodyear’s option tire performs well in the March 9 Cup race, it will become the primary tire for the Nov. 2 championship race at Phoenix on NBC. In that case, there would be no option tire for the November race.

NASCAR stated for the March Phoenix weekend that:

Practice allocation will be one primary set and one option set of tires for teams.

Qualification will be one primary set.

Rent allocation will be six primary sets, two option sets and the qualifying set of tires on the car.

It will be up to the teams how to use the tires during the race.