Goodyear to offer two tire compounds in NASCAR All-Star Race

The 70-lap race will feature four segments: 20 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and a final 10-lap dash for the cash with 10 drivers racing for $1million.

The winner of the first three stages will automatically advance to one of the 10 positions in the final segment. The remaining drivers will transfer by their average finish in the first three segments.

The All-Star Race is designed to be fun for fans, showcasing the best drivers and race teams in NASCAR,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “With the effort that Goodyear has put into this race with multiple tire compounds, I am excited to see how the stages play out, especially the final 10-car, 10-lap sprint to the checkered flag.”

In addition to the segments, Goodyear will feature two different tire compounds — a “Prime” and an “Option” tire package. The option package will be softer and expected to provide more grip and speed, perhaps as much as a half-second a lap. However, the softer compound will fall off quicker so competitors will have to be judicial when they use the Prime tires for a quick burst of speed.

“We’re extremely excited abut this format and the ability to bring an Option tire to this year’s All-Star race,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “The more tractive compounds used in this combination of left- and right-side tires will showcase the strategy of the event, and will five teams the ability to choose exactly when to use this set-up to give them the best chance to win.”

Any team that holds its Option tires for the final segment, will have to start behind cars not using the softer compound. Each team in both the All-Star and Monster Energy Open transfer race will have a set of the Option tires to use in practice prior to the events.

The 25th-running of the All-Star race will be held on Saturday, May 20. Qualifying will be on Friday night, May 19. Each team will run three laps of qualifying with a four-tire pit stop. There will be no speed limit for the pit stops in qualifying for the All-Star race. The top-five speeds in the first round will have the opportunity to qualify again. The team executing the fastest pit stop
will receive the Pit Crew Competition Award.