Joe Gibbs Racing Unveils Why NASCAR Cannot Race Under Wet Conditions

Published 04/01/2024, 9:57 AM EDT

While NASCAR is already exploring how it can expand its capabilities to racing amidst rainy weather with a recent example at Richmond, there still seem to be some questions regarding the viability of the innovation. While textbook definitions say that the tires being used in stock car racing aren’t suitable for damp and slippery weather conditions, Joe Gibbs Racing recently shared an informative video on Instagram talking about the same. They event talked about different types of tires being used in the circuit! If you’re new to the NASCAR community, the video is definitely going to help you gain some interesting knowledge about the sport!

To tread or not to tread!

JGR, a dominant force in NASCAR, has faced both triumphs and obstacles in wet racing conditions. They took to their Instagram handle to share a reel where they discussed the challenges faced by drivers after rainfall and also explained the two kinds of tires: the one with tread for water, and the other lacking it.

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“Why can’t NASCAR teams race in the rain? The tires don’t have tread for water. They need to stay dry under a tent. There are tires with tread for water. They work at low speeds on a damp track. With no tread, there would be no traction, and lots of wrecked cars,” the video revealed.

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A post shared by Joe Gibbs Racing (@joegibbsracing)

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The high speeds, slick tires, and heavy weight of NASCAR vehicles make wet conditions extremely dangerous, and there have been consequences faced by drivers for riding on wet surfaces over the years. However, that doesn’t mean that NASCAR hasn’t tried ways to dodge this issue.

Safety measures taken by NASCAR over the years to enhance racing in rain

NASCAR has been exploring ways to address rain delays during oval races. In 2022, they decided to adopt a package that closely resembles the wet package used for road courses. This package included essential features like a windshield wiper, rain lights, mud flaps, and rain tires. However, it’s important to note that this package will be implemented exclusively on short oval tracks selected by the series, such as Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

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During the race at Daytona in 2022, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, and Justin Haley encountered wet conditions. Unfortunately, they lost traction and spun their cars due to the slippery surface. On the other hand, Austin Dillon skillfully avoided a major crash as the rain intensified. The race was eventually halted due to the adverse weather conditions. Even last year while running at a rain-washed Chicago Street race, Kyle Busch faced a tense situation. As he navigated turn six of the street course, he lost control of his vehicle. The incident resulted in his forceful collision with the tire barrier.

It’s safe to say that rain and NASCAR don’t go hand in hand. But perhaps there would come a day when day when stock cars would be able to fully forego the problem!

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Ariva Debnath