Phoenix NASCAR Testing: NASCAR’s prep for 2024 is underway, marked by Phoenix Raceway hosting a pivotal two-day NASCAR Cup Series testing session. The focus? Enhancing short-track racing. A league of six Cup Series driversKyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Corey LaJoie, and the freshly crowned champ Ryan Blaneyshared insights, adding their valuable perspectives to the endeavor.
In the tire realm, Goodyear’s been revving up trials on short tracks, yielding promising results. Erik Jones, the Legacy Motor Club driver, described the recent test as a significant departure from past tire assessments, noting a substantial shift. Positive feedback from the prior Richmond test prompted Goodyear’s rollout of new tires in the closing races of the 2023 season.
Phoenix’s testing session split its focus over two halves: the initial spotlight on tires, while later attention shifted to gearbox adjustments and noise reduction via mufflers. Notably, the last tire alteration was based on insights gleaned from the Richmond trials.
Erik Jones, driving the #43, shared, “The tire stuff was insightful, providing substantial learnings. Todays insights will likely find broader applications. Tomorrow, we’ll gauge tire durability with a longer run, examining its potential in various scenarios. We also experimented with package tweaksproductive exploration.”
NASCAR’s keen on optimizing the short-track setup for the Next-Gen cars, aiming to address concerns about tire wear, car stability in turbulent air, and lane congestion. The recent testing marks a promising turn, with Jones highlighting it as a significant shift, perhaps the most substantial in his career.
“In all my tire tests, today stood out as the most impactful change I’ve experienced,” remarked the Legacy Motor Club driver.
Gearbox adjustments were also in NASCAR’s sights, aiming to curtail the need for drivers to manually shift gears on short tracks.
Ryan Blaney notably capitalized on the new tire dynamics at Martinsville and Phoenix. Clinching a victory in the penultimate race, a P2 finish in the season finale secured him the championship. Reduced tire wear played into Blaney’s strategy, persistently challenging for the lead with Kyle Larson on his tail.
Anticipating the Phoenix tests, Blaney shared, “We’ve had discussions on procedure with NASCAR. While unsure of potential changes, I’m eager to return to the wheel. It’s a welcome break, enabling focus on productive tasks. Hopefully, this test yields positive discoveries. We’ve got a laundry list to try, aiming to fine-tune our package.”
Driver feedback has been instrumental post Next-Gen car introduction. Not merely highlighting flaws, drivers have been proactive in suggesting competitive race enhancements. Collaborative efforts between NASCAR and drivers showcase a promising trajectory for ongoing improvement.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is Ryan Blaney’s annual salary?
Ryan Blaney’s estimated annual salary is a whopping $2 million. In terms of career victories, as of 2023, he has secured an impressive 7 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series.
What car is being changed in NASCAR 2024?
Exciting news for racing fans! Ford and Toyota are gearing up for the 2024 Cup Series season with fresh designs for their Mustang and Camry TRD models. Ford’s Dark Horse and Toyota’s Camry XSE were both unveiled in November, showcasing sleek and modern updates to these iconic vehicles. Get ready to see these new designs on the track and cheer on your favorite drivers in style.
Does Phoenix have a NASCAR track?
Since 1964, the motorsport track has been a hub for NASCAR enthusiasts, hosting two race weekends annually, including the final championship race since 2020. Phoenix Raceway has also played host to a variety of other racing events, such as the CART, IndyCar Series, USAC, and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. With such a diverse range of events, the track has become a beloved destination for racing fans of all kinds.
Does Phoenix Raceway have a road course?
In 1990, the oval course underwent resurfacing. The following summer, the old 2.7 miles road course was replaced with a new 1.51 miles infield road course. This new road course hosted PIR’s inaugural night race in 1992, which was a part of the IMSA Camel GT Series.
