Brad Keselowski questions if teams will have enough sets of tires for Saturday night’s Cup race at Richmond Raceway, but NASCAR does not plan on approving additional sets for teams before the 400-lap race.
Richmond Raceway’s abrasive track surface and a softer tire by Goodyear have Keselowski and others in the garage concerned ahead of Saturday’s race.
“We’re in trouble,” Keselowski said when asked by NBC Sports if there are enough sets of tires for teams to run the race.
Keselowski, who starts sixth, admitted “I might be wrong. Maybe something will change and we’ll get in the night time and the tires will extend their life cycle more than what we’ve seen in practice. But right now it does not look good.”
Teams will have eight sets of new tires plus the set of tires they will start Saturday’s race. NASCAR, in consultation with Goodyear, determines how many sets of tires teams are allowed per race.
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Drivers have continually asked Goodyear to bring a softer tire to tracks so there is more tire wear. The right side tire teams have this weekend is the same as the option tire that was used in this race last year. The left-side tire is “uber soft,” according Rick Heinrich, product manager for Goodyear.
Heinrich was pleased with what he saw in Friday’s practice with tire wear.
— NBC Sports —