Finally, after years of fans tirelessly campaigning for improvements to the on-track action (or lack thereof) at Phoenix Raceway, all signs point to what should be one of the most unpredictable and entertaining NASCAR Cup Series events the Arizona facility has ever hosted. Once the green flag waves for the Shriners Children’s 500, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1, teams will be tasked with hurdling yet another variable to find victory in the Valley. With help from Goodyear, three sets of “option” tires have been distributed to each crew, which will likely dramatically alter the complexion of the competition at Phoenix. Similar to other racing disciplines, such as IndyCar and Formula 1, NASCAR is promoting tire strategy by offering teams two different compounds for the 312-lap race: primary sets, which are crafted for longevity with less grip, in addition to a softer and faster-wearing option with more grip, designed to increase pace for a short period of time to maximize efficiency on track. Simplified, the softer tire will allow for more passing throughout the field and parity up front – two things that have been hard to come by at Phoenix since the introduction of the seventh-generation car in 2022. It also adds another element of strategy to track that’s notoriously regarded as one of the most technically challenging on the circuit. Someone who knows just how difficult it is to master the one-mile track is Christopher Bell. The driver of the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing won at Phoenix last March, then returned and finished fifth with most laps led in the series finale. He also happens to be the hottest driver in the sport right now, riding back-to-back wins through just three races. “To me, Phoenix is one of the best tracks on the schedule, because it rewards the best drivers and the best teams,” Bell said. “Yeah, I mean, the cars are going to get spread out, but we're not pack racing. What we're doing is we're not handicapping the leader. The best cars, best teams and the best drivers show up at Phoenix.” Fortunately for teams, this won’t be the first time two different tires are used in a competitive setting. Last season, Goodyear brought the same compounds to Richmond (Virginia) Raceway – a track with similar qualities and quandaries to Phoenix. From NASCAR’s perspective, the experiment was a resounding success that spawned headlines and the most competitive race at the three-quarter-mile track in close to a decade. The team that benefited the most from the option tires at Richmond was Daniel Suarez and Trackhouse Racing. The Mexico-born racer took what was a 20th-place car and managed to finish 10th with over 90 laps led. Given his experience with the Goodyears, he believes there is a great opportunity to inject much-needed excitement into the on-track product at Phoenix. “I think the option tires are a great opportunity for us to mix it up a little bit more when it comes to strategy and learning new things,” Suarez said. “We had that experience at Richmond last year and I think it worked out amazingly. "One of the reasons it was a lot of fun to watch was because you had different people running different races and different agendas. It just creates more opportunities and more tools to do different things. While there’s little debate as to whether the option tire will enhance the visual appeal for fans at Phoenix, the competition aspect raises some concerns for drivers. In promoting parity and strategy, there is a strong likelihood that unsuspecting names will finish atop the scoring pylon. The only hope is this won’t create a chaotic spectacle. Infamously, Austin Dillon used the softer tires to win at Richmond last year by bulldozing his way through reigning champion Joey Logano and future Hall of Famer Denny Hamlin in the closing laps of the event. “ I personally am not a fan of the option tire, because it adds a gimmick to the race and allows non competitive cars to otherwise be competitive off of a different strategy,” Bell said. “So, I don't like it for that reason. "NASCAR has made it very clear why they put the option tire in place, and that is to try and get more aggressive on the compound of the rubber and to basically use it as a test session to see how soft they can get the tire to be. So, I understand that aspect of it, and I'm thankful that we don't have the option tire whenever it comes time to crown a champion.” Gone should be the days of spread out and monotonous racing at Phoenix – at least for now. While the Shriners Children’s 500 promises to be the most unpredictable and visually striking event Avondale has seen in years, NASCAR has made it clear there will not be option tires when the sport returns in November for the championship race. Only time will tell if Bell can make it three consecutive wins in 2025 or if Team Penske can retain their prowess at Phoenix, but one thing is certain: Fans will be treated to a wild race out West, unlike anything seen at the one-mile track.
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