NASCAR Testing Rain Tires At Bristol Motor Speedway
From Bristol Dirt to Bristol Damp?
Several NASCAR Cup Series teams were at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday to try a wet weather package on the banked half-mile track.
Legacy Motor Club, RFK Racing and Spire Motorsports took part in the test.
NASCAR started making rain tires an option at some short tracks last year. The Truck Series used them for a few laps at Martinsville and the Cup Series in a heat during the All-Star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro.
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The Bristol test only included tires and defoggers. The cars did not have wipers, rain flaps or lights like the road course rain package has, according to Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass.
NASCAR had the same setup ready to go for the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum, but didn’t need it as the race was moved up a day to avoid the heavy downpour that soaked California this week.
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Bristol was hosed down for the test and the cars would only run during a real race on a damp surface, not while it was raining or very wet. NASCAR hasn’t reported the findings or any decisions on this year’s Bristol races, both of which will be held on the concrete surface as the spring Bristol Dirt Race has been discontinued after three years.
One thing that will be different at Bristol is its wall. The track is painting it with red and white sections as a throwback to a classic look.
The Food City 500 is scheduled at Bristol on Sunday, March 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET.