"I hear some comments; I totally disagree" - Steve Letarte and Bobby Labonte defend NASCAR's tire strategy for next-gen cars

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte and former crew chief Steve Letarte backed the governing body's decision to introduce tire strategy into the mix for the Cup race at Richmond Raceway. Responding to the critics, Labonte and Letarte explained why this move would improve racing in the premier stock car series.

For the Cook Out 400 at Richmond, NASCAR introduced two tire compounds, adding variability to the strategy. Each team will get seven sets of the yellow "prime" tires and two sets of the red "options" tires. The primes last longer, while the options give a better grip with higher wear.

Defending NASCAR's latest experiment with tires, former crew chief Steve Letarte dismissed claims from critics who suggested that it convoluted the race. Contrary to the suggestion, Letarte opined that tire choice brought the premier stock car racing series closer to the grassroots racing series.

Expressing his take on the latest episode of the NASCAR Insider's Roundtable episode, the 45-year-old analyst said:

"I hear some comments that people feel like that this is convoluted or adjusting racing. But I totally disagree. This idea of different tires, I actually think is the opposite of convoluted. I think it's moving the premier stock car racing closer to what everyone in the country does on Saturday night, right, you have this choice."

Former NASCAR champion, Bobby Labonte, offered a unique insight into why multiple tire compounds are necessary in the next-gen era. Labonte said that in the era of parity, the difference in tire compounds will improve the racing product on the track. He said:

"This car especially, puts everybody closer together. Everything's closer, so now you have to have more "options" out there that are created by the teams and how the driver drives. Because the cars are the same, so now you got to have those options, different things organically happen, so you'll see less of everybody in single file. So I think it's great."

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NASCAR Insider explains how tire choice adds a layer of chaos

NBC Sports reporter, Nate Ryan, believes fans crave some degree of chaos and like to see the drivers and teams put in difficult situations. Ryan said the tire gamble will add a layer of chaos to the Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, adding to the drama and the excitement.

Elaborating on how the option tire could create chaos and add strategic variability to the race, he said on the aforementioned show:

"I think fans also appreciate chaos to some degree. I always say what's bad for drivers and teams is often good for fans, because when they're scrambling and trying to figure things out, that is often what produces action, drama and uncertain outcomes. I think that's what fans come to see."

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin starts on pole for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway and will lead the field to the green flag at 6:00 pm ET, this Sunday, August 11.