NASCAR’s short-track package has come under plenty of criticism. With the final playoff race taking place at Martinsville Speedway, the sport’s shortest track on the calendar, speculation is rife about what the sanctioning body needs to do to improve the Next Gen car’s performance in such formats. However, instead of focusing on the potential tire falloff in the high-stakes race, Goodyear held a wet-weather tire test at Homestead-Miami, hinting at the use of the compound on larger ovals in the foreseeable future.

After decades of races being shortened or delayed because of rain, has NASCAR finally mastered the art of racing on a damp track? That would depend on the outcome of the tire test at Homestead, having already tested wet-weather tires on road courses and short ovals. The last wet weather tire test took place in June earlier this year, and the results were promising.

Goodyear looking to expand its wet weather package

In June, The 2024 USA Today 301 in New Hampshire Motor Speedway began a new era. While it wasn’t the first time NASCAR used its wet-weather tires, it was the most effective use of their untested compound in a race marred by thunderstorms, lightning, and a faint tornado threat. Despite a two-hour delay, fans witnessed all 301 laps completed at ‘The Magic Mile’ as drivers managed to compete in damp conditions with Christopher Bell emerging victorious.

While there was plenty of skepticism surrounding the tires, especially on an oval, the doubt was quashed as soon as the race went green. Given the success, it’s only natural for NASCAR to go one step further and test its wet-weather package on larger ovals. Revealing details about the tire test, FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass tweeted, “Wet weather tire test today at Homestead to see them on a 1.5-mile track. More of an exploratory test. Nothing planned for use in short term (like at least early next year) but mainly to develop a plan, if there can be one, of what they need to research/develop for intermediates.”

What makes wet weather tires different from others? Simply put, the tread patterns on them are similar to those seen in passenger cars, offering a better grip on the track as it’s designed to expel water. However, the compound is more prone to warming up as well, faster than ‘slick tires’, which is why the water between the tread patterns helps it cool down. It will be interesting to see how NASCAR dampened Homestead-Miami’s 1.5-mile intermediate speedway to test their tires and what data the event gathered.

As things stand, NASCAR has deemed the wet tires eligible for short ovals and road courses. However, in both formats, the package differs because short-track races lack windshield wipers and flaps, but they utilize a defogger in addition to rain tires. Meanwhile, the road course package is designed specifically to help dry the track and was first used in the 2023 All-Star Heat Races at North Wilkesboro Speedway. With the data gathered at Homestead-Miami, how will NASCAR customize its intermediate package for the foreseeable future? Time will tell.

NASCAR’s short track woes highlight a bigger problem

Trending

Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Pruett Pens a Heartfelt Message for Husband After His Unwavering Support for His Family

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Offers a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to His Loyal Fanbase as He Gears Up for His Return With Budweiser

JRM Prodigy & Kelley Earnhardt’s Son Earn Major Backing as Dale Jr.’s Loyal Partners Announce 2025 Return

“It Drives Like a Forklift” – Shane van Gisbergen Controversially Splits the Difference Between NASCAR’s Proud Next Gen and Xfinity Cars

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s Gamble on Tony Stewart’s Money Loaded Star Could Not Be Worth the Financial Hassle

It’s no secret that the short-track package has suffered since the introduction of the Next-Gen car. The format is seen as NASCAR’s foundation; however, due to limited passing opportunities on tracks that are 1 mile and under, it’s possible that fewer such tracks will be seen on the calendar in the future. The sanctioning body has made a variety of adjustments to the Next-Gen car to improve the package, with aerodynamic changes and a softer compound being tested to improve the quality of racing, but nothing has worked consistently.

Reflecting on problems, Kyle Larson told SiriusXM Radio, “Nobody has the answers. Goodyear doesn’t have the answer. NASCAR doesn’t have the answer about their car and why it doesn’t run good in traffic. The drivers, the teams, and the engineers — we don’t have the answers either. We’re trying to crutch this race car on short tracks with the tire and then blame Goodyear every week cause cars can’t pass. I don’t have the answer to fix what we currently have and neither do you but please stop blaming Goodyear. It’s not a tire problem.”

With the Next-Gen car here to stay for the foreseeable future, it’s clear that the short-track package will continue to struggle for the lifespan of the vehicle. All teams are required to purchase identical parts from a single source supplier, which means the cars are virtually the same with very little difference in speed to separate them on the racetrack. While it creates interesting outcomes on intermediate speedways, the real struggles begin when almost 40 cars are cramped on half-mile tracks, performing almost identically.