KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Tire problems.
It’s something that’s weaved its way into NASCAR Cup Series races throughout the 2022 season. From cars getting stuck on the track after getting a flat tire earlier this season to wheels completely coming off, it’s been a topic of discussion more than it should be.
That was the case again this weekend at Kansas Speedway.
It began Saturday (May 14) when drivers practiced for the AdventHealth 400. Five different teams suffered failures during the short session, an outcome Goodyear was already concerned about. Their notes earlier this week emphasized the importance of minimum air pressure.
“The amount of air pressure in the tire should directly correlate to the amount of load on that corner of the car,” Goodyear Director of Racing Greg Stucker said. “If the amount of load increases – like it has on the left-rear of this Next Gen car – you need to increase the load-carrying capability in that tire, which is done via air pressure. If you run below our recommended pressures, the tire can over-deflect, sustain damage and result in an air loss.”
But despite that warning from Goodyear, teams pushed the envelope and suffered the consequences. Buescher and Joey Logano were both forced to go to backup cars after damage suffered with their problems during practice. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also experienced issues in the session but were able to repair the damage done instead of going to a backup.
Fast forward to race day and it didn’t take long for tire failures to begin once again. BJ McLeod was the first to fall victim.
Unfortunate early ending at @kansasspeedway 🛞
No. 78 blew a LR tire in stage 1 taking @bjmcleod78 for a spin. Thankfully, he is okay.
Our team wants to extend a big thank you to General Formulations for their support and we look forward to @TXMotorSpeedway ⭐️#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/zNmC95aJXh
— Live Fast Motorsports (@teamlivefast) May 15, 2022
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