Phoenix Practice Thrown into Chaos by Widespread Tire Failures Ahead of Championship Decider

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The critical sole practice session for the NASCAR Cup Series championship finale at Phoenix Raceway was dramatically disrupted by a series of alarming tire issues that affected multiple championship contenders and their rivals, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Sunday’s title race. Within the opening five minutes of the session, the pristine asphalt of Phoenix Raceway became a minefield of mechanical woes, as a cascade of tire failures brought proceedings to a halt on multiple occasions.

The drama commenced almost immediately. As Denny Hamlin, one of the four Championship 4 contenders, navigated the circuit, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe experienced a left-rear tire failure. The No. 19 machine slowed significantly on the backstretch, the deflated tire dragging along the track surface as Briscoe carefully guided his car back to the pit lane. This incident, captured in dramatic footage, set a tense tone for the session.

Simultaneously, A.J. Allmendinger also encountered tire trouble, his No. 16 Chevrolet reporting a left-front tire failure. The concurrent nature of these issues prompted NASCAR officials to display the red flag, halting on-track activity to allow teams to assess the situation and for track crews to clear any debris.

Upon the resumption of green-flag racing, the unsettling trend continued. Another Joe Gibbs Racing entry, Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, also slowed with a reported cut left-rear tire, prompting concern within the championship-contending JGR camp. While Hamlin continued to log laps, undeterred by his teammates’ misfortunes, the session was soon brought to a standstill for a second time. This red flag was deployed for Daniel Suarez, whose No. 99 Chevrolet also suffered a left-rear tire failure, forcing him to stop on track.

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In response to the persistent tire problems, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was brought into the garage for his crew to meticulously inspect the vehicle for any potential underlying issues that might have contributed to the failures affecting his teammates.

The wave of tire-related incidents extended beyond the Joe Gibbs Racing stable. Riley Herbst, piloting the No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota, experienced a left-rear tire failure that unfortunately resulted in contact with the outside wall. While Herbst managed to return his car to the pits without necessitating a full stoppage, the incident underscored the widespread nature of the problem, leaving teams operating with palpable apprehension as they navigated the circuit.

The third red flag of the session was triggered by A.J. Allmendinger’s more severe incident. The veteran driver, who had previously reported a left-front tire issue, lost control entering Turn 3 and made significant contact with the wall. Allmendinger later stated in post-session interviews that he believed a flat right-front tire preceded the accident.

Adding to the growing concern, Chase Elliott, another Championship 4 contender, also slowed his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, citing a potential tire issue. Out of an abundance of caution, Elliott immediately returned to the garage for a thorough inspection. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate and fellow Championship 4 driver, Kyle Larson, also had a minor brush with the wall exiting Turn 4 while pushing the limits of his No. 5 Chevrolet. However, this incident was deemed less concerning by his team.

The fourth red flag of the tumultuous practice session was called for Kyle Busch, whose No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet suffered a left-rear tire deflation, forcing him to stop on track. Busch had also made light contact with the wall earlier in the session.

Briscoe eventually returned to the track but quickly reported a vibration, necessitating another return to the garage. Near the conclusion of the session, Suarez experienced a second left-rear tire failure, though he was able to nurse his car back to the pits without bringing out another red flag.

Speaking to FS1 after the session, a visibly concerned Chase Briscoe commented on the pervasive tire issues. "I guess it’s a good thing that it’s not just us," Briscoe stated. "It’s unfortunate that it’s happening, but at least we’re not on an island by ourselves. I’m [confiding in] James [Small, crew chief], and everybody on our Bass Pro Shops Toyota will figure out what we can do to help manage that on Sunday. But yeah, definitely alarming."

Briscoe further elaborated on the impact of the disruptions on his team’s preparation. "Wasn’t a great practice for us because we really didn’t get to run a lot because of the issues. We’ll get to work on it and see what we can do. Fortunately, it is one of those weekends where it is an hour-long practice, and you can go change things. If this was one of the normal weekends we have, we’d be in a really tight box. I’m confident we’ll be just fine, just have to figure out what’s going on."

Despite the extensive delays and tire-related incidents, the practice session did eventually conclude, revealing the speed charts. Ty Gibbs, driving the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, posted the fastest lap of the session. He was followed by the Team Penske duo of Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Ford and Austin Cindric in the No. 2 Ford, who secured the second and third quickest times, respectively.

Among the Championship 4 contenders, Denny Hamlin was the fastest, recording the fifth-best lap time. William Byron, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver, was ninth quickest. Kyle Larson, in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, was eleventh, and Chase Briscoe, despite his tire woes, managed to place sixteenth.

In terms of race simulation metrics, Ryan Blaney demonstrated strong pace over longer runs, leading the ten-lap and twenty-lap average speeds. Kyle Larson proved dominant in the fifteen-lap and twenty-five-lap average simulations, and also over a thirty-five-lap average. William Byron topped the thirty-lap average, indicating competitive long-run potential across several drivers. Larson also accumulated the most laps during the session, completing a total of 69 circuits, suggesting his team prioritized endurance testing amidst the chaos.

The widespread tire failures at Phoenix Raceway have raised significant questions regarding the durability and performance of the tires supplied for the crucial championship weekend. Teams will now be working intently to analyze the data from this chaotic practice session, aiming to identify any potential adjustments or strategies that can mitigate the risks associated with these unexpected tire issues, as they prepare for the ultimate test of the NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday. The unforeseen problems have undoubtedly added an extra layer of intrigue and unpredictability to the championship showdown.