Tire pressure has NASCAR’s attention

Associated Press

MARTINSVILLE, Va.

There’s been lot of talk about tires in the NASCAR garage the past few weeks, or longer, and lots of theories about whether something shady is going on or if the chatter is just a bunch of hot air.

After last two races, NASCAR confiscated tires from teams. It took tires from red-hot points leader Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano after the race at Phoenix two weeks ago, and declared them fine a few days later. It took tires from Harvick, Kurt Busch, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman last weekend at Fontana.

Harvick, the defending series champion, has won twice this season and finished first or second in eight consecutive races dating to the end of last season. It’s the second-longest such streak in NASCAR history. Seven-time series champion Richard Petty did it in 11 straight races in 1975.

Several drivers think there is something to be found during these so called tire audits.

Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon had his tires confiscated in 1998 after a race, and his team was cleared of any wrongdoing, but he’s a believer that some teams are tampering with their tires.

“I do think they are,” he said Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “When it gets to this level and when you’re hearing about it and I’m hearing about it and they are talking about things in meetings with crew chiefs — that tells me that it’s being done. It’s just not clear on how it’s being done.”

Air pressure in tires rises during a race, and Gordon is a proponent of NASCAR allowing bleeder valves that would allow the tires to maintain a certain level. They are not allowed now, however, and rumors that some teams have devised ways to create that effect have caused NASCAR to take a closer look.

Goodyear, which provides the tires for races, offers a recommended tire pressure for each race. Teams can choose to follow that guidance or use a different pressure, but not alter it during the race. Many choose a lower pressure, knowing the racing will cause the pressure to rise over time.

“There is a lot of talk, there is a lot of dialogue and there are a lot of rumors in the garage,” said Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Gordon. “Yeah, I think it is obvious that some people think something is going on, and is NASCAR reacting to that? Or do they feel uncomfortable with what is going on?

“I don’t know that answer.”