Second-place qualifier Denny Hamlin doesn’t think tire strategy per se will play a huge role in Sunday’s Auto Club 400 because drivers are likely to take four tires at every available opportunity.
However, tire allotment could play a huge role, with new rules compelling teams to work with two fewer sets than they had for last year’s race.
“If there’s a lot of cautions, it’s going to be a factor, for sure,” Hamlin told the NASCAR Wire Service. “This race track is nearly like Atlanta, where you have to take tires, (event) if you just roll around under caution. I like it for that reason. It’s one of the oldest surfaces we have on our circuit. It’s still a great surface to race on.
“Being that we have two less sets, we have to be mindful of it. It’s tough on the crew chiefs, because you don’t know when the cautions will fall. You only know when two will fall (at the ends of the first two stages). So you’ve got to try to plan around that if you have cautions in-between.
“My guess is, if there’s a lot of cautions early, somewhere in the middle of the race you’ll have to stay out on a short stint to save tires for the end.”
Source: Reid Spencer / NASCAR Wire Service
