Christopher Bell, who won the Phoenix Cup Race, has voiced his dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s option tire experiment. Talking to Kevin Harvick on his Happy Hour podcast, Bell criticized the use of dual tire compounds in races.
NASCAR has been experimenting with tire options, with the introduction of ‘Option Tires.’ These debuted at the North Wilkesboro Speedway during last year’s All-Star Race. The move allowed teams to diversify their racing strategy.
Goodyear offers teams two different compounds: one primary set, crafted for longevity with less grip, and a softer and faster-wearing option with more grip, designed to increase pace for a short period.
Christopher Bell Not a Fan of NASCAR’s Multiple Tire Experiment
Bell bluntly explained to Harvick, “I hate having two compounds. Where one compound is this significant advantage in the race, I understand that other forms of motorsports do it. F1 does it, Indycar does it. But they also don’t have planned yellow flags at the stage breaks like we do. Or they don’t even have stage breaks, period.”
“That really spells out the strategy, and it adds a gimmick to the race because if you are a competitive car that’s racing for the lead, you have a spelled-out strategy that you have to do in order to win the race. You have to leave a set of tires lying for a late-race restart or the last run of the race,” Bell continued.
The driver of the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing did, however, commend NASCAR and Goodyear for making positive strides toward enhancing the sport and improving the racing experience.
NASCAR is attempting to adopt a strategy similar to other motorsport disciplines, such as IndyCar and Formula 1, by offering teams two tire compounds for the 312-lap race.
NASCAR Cup teams will have both "Prime" and "Option" tire setups at @phoenixraceway today. The Option has more grip early but will fall off more later in a run, so choosing when to use those red-lettered sets can affect strategy of the race. The Prime has standard yellow letters. pic.twitter.com/5aXzSIFgXl
— Goodyear Racing (@GoodyearRacing) March 9, 2025
Bell won his third straight race in 2025 with the Shriners Childrens 500 win. He beat his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin, in a two-lap sprint to clinch the series Phoenix Cup Race.