Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • War in Ukraine
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • Airless Tires
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
    • Rubber In Automotive Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
March 29, 2021 04:01 PM

Bias ply tires return to Cup Series for Bristol Dirt Race

Bruce Davis
Tire Business
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BRISTOL, Tenn.—NASCAR's decision to turn back the clock for a Cup Series race on dirt—the first in more than 50 years—meant drivers in NASCAR's top-tier racing series were racing on bias-ply tires for the first time in more than 30 years.

    As part of its strategy to boost interest in the 2021 NASCAR season, series officials and teams agreed to run one race this year on a packed dirt surface that's quite common among lower-tier, regional racing series.

    Bristol Motor Speedway, site of the race, is a paved 1/2-mile banked oval; for this one-off event, the track hauled in 23,000 cubic yards of dirt over the course of several weeks in January and February and used Global Satellite Positioning (GPS) equipment on the bulldozers and graders to ensure it was laid down properly.

    There is nine to 10 feet of dirt in the corners for a 19-degree banking and one to two feet on the front and backstretches. The racing surface on the track was about 50 feet wide, according to Steve Swift, senior vice president of operations and development for Speedway Motorsports, the track's operator.

    The tires designated for this race feature a block-style tread pattern that was used for the NASCAR Truck Series as recently as 2019.

    The leading edge of the blocks bite into the dirt and the grooves in the tread help evacuate the dirt, Goodyear said. The also has been widened to 11 inches, versus 10 inches on tires for modified, to give the NASCAR cars and trucks more grip.

    A key reason for using bias-ply tires, according to Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of racing, is that bias tires don't have belts under the tread area and thus are more "compliant" and able to conform to irregularities of the dirt surface. In addition, the tires designated for mounting on the cars' left, or driver, side are significantly shorter to build in more stagger between the left- and right-side tires.

    Goodyear began transitioning from bias play to radial tires in NASCAR competition in 1989. None of the current Cup Series drivers has run a bias-ply tire in a Cup series race previously, Stucker noted.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Synthos to resume butadiene rubber production at German plant in March
    2
    Rubber board urges stabilization of NR prices
    3
    Trelleborg: U.K. investigation of TWS deal ‘normal procedure'
    4
    Michelin's hydrogen partners: 4 things to know about Symbio's stakeholders
    5
    Asahi Kasei settles Michigan PFAS lawsuit, agrees to clean up pollution
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • War in Ukraine
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • Airless Tires
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
        • Rubber In Automotive Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION