Bob Pockrass raises concerns over NASCAR's option tire gamble at Richmond Cup Series race

NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass raised concerns regarding the tire strategy at Richmond Raceway later in August. Teams will have the option tire to use during the race with the normal prime tire.

Officials earlier announced that teams will be given sets of the option (soft) tire at the race in Richmond later in August. This tire, which sets an overall faster lap but also has a high rate of wear, is experimental. It was earlier used in the All-Star Race, but this is set to be the first time that multiple tire options are available for a NASCAR Cup point race.

All teams will be given two sets of the option tire for the race alongside the six prime tires. Two sets will be provided for the practice sessions, one of each prime and the option tire.

While this is set to be an interesting experiment for the race, Bob Pockrass expressed his concern regarding the tire wear that the teams might experience. As mentioned, the option tire provides more grip but wears out faster.

Pockrass wrote on X:

"The biggest question on the option tire for Richmond is how long will it last. It apparently only lasted 15 laps or so during the Iowa test. But in the evening at Richmond (race is a 6p ET start)? Maybe longer."

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NASCAR senior VP expecting "great racing" at Richmond owing to tire strategy

Elton Sawyer, the senior vice president for competition in NASCAR, talked about the mixed tire strategy teams will have during the Richmond race.

He revealed that the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro provided a good opportunity to test the short-track package for the option tire. However, the results were not what they expected. But he feels that putting teams in a position where they have to "manage" their tires might result in an interesting race.

"As that event unfolded, throughout the weekend, we were still optimistic that we would see something there that would really move the needle on our short-track package," NASCAR quoted him as saying.

"We didn’t get the results at Wilkesboro that we were hoping for, with a very similar opportunity that we had at Bristol where we did see results, and even at Iowa where we did as well. Any time we can put our teams in a position where they have to manage tires, we really see some great racing and we see an entertaining race, so that’s our goal going into Richmond."

The Bristol race earlier this year saw massive tire wear, which became a challenge for the teams and the drivers to optimize the maximum out of their short tire lives. Richmond Raceway might produce more interesting action, as Elton Sawyer mentioned. The race is scheduled to take place on August 11.