| This weekend the famed Southern 500 tag returns to | | | | specialist. |
| South Carolina's Darlington Raceway. The track has | | | | A general rule of thumb for tires and paved track |
| nicknames like "The Lady in Black" and "The Track too | | | | surfaces is this: old pavement and new tires go |
| Tough to Tame." When the 500 was held annually | | | | together; new pavement and old tires go together. A |
| over Labor Day weekend the race earned the | | | | worn out asphalt track wears tires so much, that one |
| moniker "The Granddaddy of Them All." Throughout | | | | needs new tires at every opportunity. New asphalt |
| the evolution of name changes and date swapping, a | | | | provides better grip for a tire that is a little harder. |
| constant that always stayed with the race teams at | | | | New tires are hardened up by heat cycles. Race |
| this track was a concern for tires. | | | | teams refer to this process as scuffing. A car will |
| The egg-shaped speedway's surface has a reputation | | | | head out for a few laps in practice return to the |
| for eating tires. Prior to 2008, the asphalt surface had | | | | garage, and four tires will be changed. The car again |
| a mix of stone and sand in the compound that really | | | | will turn a few laps and the work is repeated. |
| ate away at the tire's contact patch. This was a result | | | | The heating of the tires by making laps and then |
| of the racetrack's geographical region. | | | | removing them and setting the set off to the side to |
| Along with the natural southern red clay, the sand and | | | | cool will make a more desirable compound for new |
| weather in the area formed the Darlington surface that | | | | asphalt. In 2009, we were doing something pretty rare, |
| became so legendary. Rockingham Speedway in | | | | scuffing tires at Darlington Raceway. |
| North Carolina and Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, | | | | Another crew member friend joked to me "we used |
| Florida are among tracks that have similar properties. | | | | to scuff tires by rolling the car through tech line." |
| Their locations just form a naturally abrasive surface. | | | | During the 147-lap Nationwide event the unusually |
| In my opinion this makes for some quality racing. | | | | lasting tires allowed us to incorporate some track |
| Drivers need to pay attention to tire conservation by | | | | position and fuel strategy in our race game plan. This |
| running as hard as they can without burning the tires | | | | differed from the common "put four on every chance" |
| off too soon into a run. The chassis has to be closer | | | | routine. |
| to a neutral balance to prevent any extra tire wear | | | | Nationwide teams do have to manage tires differently |
| that may occur. Pit crews will change four tires often. | | | | than the Sprint Cup cousins. Six sets are allowed for |
| These extra factors add dimensions to what could | | | | use during a race weekend. That includes practice and |
| already be a dramatic race. | | | | qualifying. It helps save the second tier teams money |
| Of course car owners paying the bills are not very | | | | and a crew chief needs to keep this in mind when |
| excited about the effect all the tire changes have on | | | | making chassis changes and pit stop calls. This brings |
| the team budget. | | | | another added element that increases race intrigue. |
| Last year's Mother's Day weekend contest was held | | | | Now the 2009 event draws near. A year of weather |
| under different circumstances than described above. | | | | has passed over the legendary speedway. It remains |
| The 1.366-mile course was repaved before the | | | | to be seen what kind of racing we will get out of the |
| NASCAR machines moved in and brought a new | | | | year-old surface. Will tremendous tire wear return? Or |
| team viewpoint. | | | | will they last and some pit road calls be put into play? |
| The new pavement was not "cheese grading" tires, as | | | | Tire tests have been conducted so we hope for great |
| one crew member put it to me. Tires were actually | | | | tire compounds and construction that balance safety |
| lasting and showing wear consistent with other | | | | and competition. |
| speedways. | | | | There are many aspects with just tires that come up |
| One year ago I was employed by a Nationwide Series | | | | at Darlington and we haven't even discussed about |
| team and working at the 200-mile Friday night race. | | | | any nuts or bolts on the race cars themselves. This |
| Fortunately for our story, my duties were one of a tire | | | | could make for a very interesting Southern 500. |