Tire compound challenges aren’t unique to NASCAR, as other racing series also struggle to find the perfect match for different tracks. With just three races remaining in the zMAX CARS Tour season, drivers faced an unexpected twist at South Boston Speedway. It wasn’t new track conditions or revised rules; instead, it was a change in tire compound that shook things up.
Both the Pro Late Model Stock Car and Late Model Stock Car divisions are deep in a heated championship battle, making the tire change for the AutobyNelson 280 race a major curveball for contenders. Friday’s practice session gave drivers their first taste of the new tire, and the initial results showed that many were grappling with the change.
Drivers React to the New Tire Compound
One of the most noticeable differences for drivers at the short track in Virginia was the steep decline in lap times. While changing track conditions could be partially responsible, most drivers believed the new tire compound was the real culprit.
South Boston Speedway has traditionally used Hoosier T2 tires for the Late Model Stock Car (LMSC) races. The zMAX CARS Tour, which had been using the same tire, switched to a softer Hoosier F45 tire for this race. Matt Weaver from Sportsnaut gathered insight from the teams and drivers, many of whom were expressing concerns following the practice sessions.
One of the drivers struggling with the new tire was Carson Kvapil, who races under Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team. Kvapil admitted he was puzzled by his performance during practice, unable to pinpoint exactly what was causing his issues. “These 45s are a bit of a flashback for me. It’s been a while since I ran on them, and I feel like there’s definitely some differences. We were really tight all day, and it seemed like the set-up should have been really loose,” he said.
Brandon Pierce, a regular in the CARS Tour, voiced serious concerns about the safety of the new tire. “My issue is a safety thing. I don’t think that tire will make it through 125 laps. I don’t care if we run ST12 or F45 or whatever; it just needs to be a consistent tire.” Pierce experienced a tire failure just three laps into his practice run, leaving him worried about how the race would play out if the problem persisted.
While some drivers, especially those from smaller or independent teams, expressed frustration with the tire change, others had a more neutral stance. Interestingly, drivers who are leading the championship chase seemed less concerned about the impact of the new tires.
Championship Contenders Share Their Thoughts
The Late Model Stock Car division has two main drivers battling for the championship title: Connor Hall and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. At the time, Hall had a decent points lead, but Queen had been closing in, reducing the gap to just three points. For both drivers, South Boston presented an important opportunity to keep their championship hopes alive.
Connor Hall didn’t notice a huge difference in the performance of the new tire during practice. “I feel like minus one or two changes, we were really good. I think the 45s were made for people who weren’t performing well on the SV2s, and now they’re benefiting. But for us, our game plan remains the same. In terms of laying rubber down, it feels pretty similar to before,” Hall explained after his practice runs.
Brenden Queen echoed a similar sentiment. He didn’t believe the new tire would cause any significant issues during the race. “I don’t think it makes too much of a difference. It’s still a Hoosier tire, and the ST ones aren’t that different from what we’ve got. If it was a major issue, we would’ve noticed it at Florence,” Queen commented.
A Crucial Moment for the CARS Tour
The tire situation at South Boston Speedway places series organizers, including co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., in a precarious position. With the championship on the line and both driver safety and performance at stake, the last thing the zMAX CARS Tour needs is for tire complications to overshadow the race. Any controversy regarding the tire could unfairly influence the title race, something no one involved in the series wants to see.
As the race looms, all eyes will be on how the new Hoosier F45 tires perform under race conditions. Will they hold up, or will they create more headaches for drivers and teams? For now, the drivers are adapting to the curveball they’ve been thrown, but it remains to be seen how much the new tire will factor into the outcome of the race and the broader championship battle.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s CARS Tour Under Major Scrutiny by Drivers as New Tires Leaves Teams Dazed and Confused
