During last Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Richmond Raceway, Joey Logano faced a challenging start after a right front tire failure caused him to crash into the outside wall in Turn 4 during practice. To avoid racing with fewer tire sets, Team Penske and Logano’s No. 22 team purchased an additional set of tires from Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 team, sparking reactions from fellow driver Denny Hamlin on his Actions Detrimental podcast. This controversy involving Joey Logano Team Penske tires highlights strategic moves teams make under NASCAR’s equipment rules.
Denny Hamlin Comments on the Tire Purchase Controversy
On his podcast, Hamlin expressed curiosity about the transaction and NASCAR’s regulations related to tire sets. He questioned whether the No. 51 team ran one fewer set of tires as a result of the deal, wondering about the financial exchange involved. Hamlin also highlighted a rule requiring teams to complete a qualifying attempt if they transfer tire sets, designed to prevent a fresh tire advantage by starting at the back without making a qualifying run.
“I don’t have an opinion on that, one way or the other. My question is… did the 51 just run a set short? … I wonder how much Penske paid them for that. They obviously paid them, [and] Rick Ware obviously took it,”
Hamlin said.
He explained how such rules evolved to stop teams from gaining an advantage by skipping qualifying laps to preserve fresh tires, a tactic once used in other series. Hamlin acknowledged that the current system aims to level the playing field, restricting benefits for teams acquiring tires after qualifying.
Going further, Hamlin reasoned that the No. 22 team, wanting the same quality of tires as others, had to purchase them from the No. 51 team, which incurred one less tire set in exchange for payment. He remained uncertain about whether this practice was unfair but indicated it seemed like a reasonable compromise given Logano’s misfortune in practice.
“So, it sounds like the 22 wanted the same set of tires as everyone else, so he had to buy the tires off the 51 and then the 51 — sorry, here’s a check and you’re going to be one set short. Do I have a problem with it? I don’t know. As long as there’s someone in the field to sell it. Certainly, the issue they had in practice didn’t appear it was their fault. It was bad luck, they ran over something. Should they have been penalized by having one less set of tires? I don’t think so. It’s probably the most fair way to do it.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and podcast host
Joey Logano’s Recovery and Performance at Richmond
Despite the setback in practice and starting from the rear, Logano showed resilience by climbing through the field to finish fourth, a promising sign as the playoffs approach. He acknowledged that the car was very fast but faced multiple tire punctures that hampered his efforts.
“We had a really fast Mustang,”
Logano admitted.
“The car had a lot of speed in it, but we just had to overcome too much. We got up into contention, and then we had a flat right rear and lost all of it again, and then steadily grind your way back into the top five. Apparently, I needed maybe 500 or 600 laps. It’s just not our weekend.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR driver
Logano further recounted the challenges faced due to tire punctures, emphasizing that these were caused by debris on the racetrack rather than aggressive driving, underlining the unpredictable nature of racing conditions.
“We had a flat tire in practice and then another flat tire in the race and both of them were punctures. It’s not like we were being too aggressive or anything like that, it’s just running over crap on the racetrack. Not our weekend.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR driver
Understanding the Tire Regulations and Team Strategies
NASCAR allows teams eight sets of tires per race weekend, which are critical for performance and safety. When Logano’s team lost a tire during practice, they faced the option of running one set fewer in the race or acquiring an extra set. Purchasing a tire set from another team is unusual but within the rules, provided certain conditions are met, such as making a qualifying attempt to avoid gaining an unfair advantage.
This situation illustrates how teams adapt to unexpected problems and use strategic decisions in managing limited resources. Hamlin’s remarks suggest that while unusual, such transactions are part of the sport’s evolving landscape, especially when bad luck strikes.
With Logano’s strong recovery to a top-five finish, Team Penske’s decision to secure tires from Rick Ware Racing allowed the No. 22 car to remain competitive despite early setbacks. It also highlights the tight margins and logistical challenges teams face during race weekends, where tire allocation can become a critical factor.
Implications for Future Races and Team Tactics
The incident raises questions about how NASCAR’s tire rules will be interpreted going forward, particularly around trading equipment and the potential for strategic advantages. Teams may closely monitor tire inventories and explore similar agreements if allowed, especially in high-stakes playoff scenarios.
For drivers like Hamlin and Logano, who are focused on championship contention, managing resources effectively while navigating rule constraints will remain crucial. How NASCAR and teams address such tire purchases could influence race strategies and fairness debates throughout the remainder of the season.