NASCAR has introduced a new wet-weather tire rule that will give teams more control over tire decisions, with the change taking effect this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The new procedure shifts an important responsibility from NASCAR officials to individual teams when conditions change during races on ovals approved for wet-weather competition.
Previously, NASCAR determined when teams were required to switch from Goodyear wet-weather tires to slick tires. Under the new rules, crew chiefs will have more freedom to make that call themselves.
NASCAR Changes Wet-Tire Rules Ahead of Bristol
The new procedure begins at Bristol and changes how wet-weather tire decisions are handled once a race is underway.
NASCAR will still determine whether a race can begin in wet conditions. However, once the green flag has dropped, teams will have more control if rain affects the track.
If NASCAR calls a caution because of rain and determines that the racing surface is damp, each team will be able to decide whether to remain on wet-weather tires or switch to slicks.
That is a change from the previous system, under which NASCAR officials determined when a tire configuration change was required.
The decision comes after feedback from teams, fans after the Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. During that race, NASCAR called a competition caution as the track dried and directed teams to change to slick tires.
So from now on, teams will have the opportunity to make that decision themselves. That adds another strategic element when rain affects a race.
There is still an important restriction, though. If NASCAR determines that pit road is damp, pit stops during a caution period will be non-competitive, meaning drivers cannot gain or lose positions through those stops. Green-flag pit stops will remain competitive.
Bristol Motor Speedway will be the first test of the revised wet-weather rules.
Goodyear has also prepared for the possibility of rain at Bristol. That means Cup Series teams set to have four wet-weather tire sets available if needed.
The rule change brings NASCAR’s oval procedure closer to the system already used on road and street courses, where crew chiefs are responsible for selecting the appropriate tire configuration after a race begins.
For teams at Bristol, that means a rain-affected race could now involve more strategic choices.
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