news
Behind the Scenes Feature: What does a Tire Specialist do?
Fans are well aware of the value of tire management and how it can affect their favorite driver’s performance on race day. But few know the person responsible for those Goodyear Racing tires, week in and week out. At Braun Racing, there are three such individuals whose sole responsibility each weekend is to man the tires: Kevin Bellicourt (No. 38 team), Mason Jennings (No. 32 team) and Thomas Goodman (No. 10 team).
Let’s walk through a NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) weekend with a Braun Racing tire specialist.
When teams first arrive to a track, they spend hours rolling the cars through tech inspection before they are approved and can participate in the weekend’s practice sessions. At this time, the tire specialist will report to the Goodyear tire compound and pick up his tires. Nationwide Series teams are allotted six sets of tires for the entire weekend.
The tire specialist measures the stagger of each tire and records it, along with the date code, serial number and spring rate information that is provided by Goodyear and is located on a sticker on the tire. Because a brand new set of tires will have this sticker readily visible, they are referred to as “sticker tires,” a term that is often used by broadcasters and pit reporters while describing pit stops during a race broadcast. Studying this information, the tire specialist will group the tires into sets of four, matching them as consistently as possible. A “bad set of tires,” or a poorly matched set of tires, can result in major handling issues for the driver. This is extremely important in the Nationwide Series because of NASCAR’s imposed tire limit. Wasting a set during a race could prove very costly in the overall finish. The Sprint Cup Series teams do not face this challenge as they have access to an unlimited number of tires throughout the weekend.
With the matching process complete, the tire specialist will set the air pressures on five of the sets at the presumed race pressure and will set the final four tires with qualifying pressures. Now, he is ready for practice to begin!
During practice, the tire specialist will meet the car on pit road as he is coming off the track. He immediately checks the tire pressures and temperatures. Tire pressures are not adjusted much during practice, allowing for a consistent base for the team to build off of and make mechanical adjustments on the car’s handling. Following practice, a cold set of tires is placed on the car in order to scale it. The tire specialist then goes to work to “wear” the set of practice tires. This process is what is typically shown on television following a pit stop. A torch is used to heat the tire and the excess rubber and rock that has built up is scraped off of the surface. The cleaned tire reveals a line of dimples called wear pins. The tire specialist measures the depth of these holes to get an indication of how much the tire is wearing and where the specific area of wear is occurring. This information is then considered by the crew chiefs as they prepare their race strategy.
The tire pressures for qualifying are set completely different than that which is used in the race. Pressures are set to make the car’s handling as tight as possible, in hopes of maximizing the grip on the track. The more grip, the faster the car. These settings, however, result in very quick wear on a tire. This is why it is used only for qualifying and not under race conditions. Following the qualifying laps, Nationwide Series cars are then rolled to impound, where they must remain untouched until race time.
Finally it is time to race. As drivers are introduced and the National Anthem is sung, the cars sit on the grid, ready to roll onto the track for the green flag. The tire specialist is able to make final air pressure adjustments as the driver climbs into the car. NASCAR dictates the minimum pressure of the right front tire; however, the other three tires can be set to the team’s discretion. All four tires are set and NASCAR verifies the pressure of the right front. As the green flag drops, the tire specialist returns to the pit stall where a busy day or evening awaits him.
During the race, the tire specialist must be ready to jump at any second, often adjusting tire pressures on the fly. With the car’s handling vital to the driver’s ability to run up front, constant adjustments are made to tweak the car to the driver’s liking. Tires provide a lot of adjustability and the crew chief uses that as a major tool to stabilize the car’s handling. The relationship between the tire specialist and the crew chief is a key factor during the race. With everything happening so quickly, decisions are made and often changed. A tire specialist learns to anticipate the adjustments based off the communication between the crew chief and driver. Although the crew chief has the final say, he will often rely on the opinion and expertise of his tire specialist to make suggestions for adjustments.
Throughout the race, the tire specialist records all tire data, including temperatures of the tires as they come off the track, the tire’s wear and the pressures that were used for each run. This data is provided to the crew chief, car chief and engineer and is used as research for future races at that track and ones that are similar.
Back at the shop and during the off-season, tire specialists often fill in the gaps and help to support the rest of the team as they prepare for the upcoming races. Everyone’s role within the organization is crucial, and the tire specialist is only one of the many elements that make up a successful NASCAR Nationwide Series team!
Kevin Bellicourt (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota)
How did you get into racing?
“I was born and raised in Daytona Beach. I’ve loved racing forever and it was all I ever wanted to do.
How did you become a tire specialist and do you think you are a “lifer”?
“I started out as a mechanic and was working for [Scott] Zipadelli. He asked me in the beginning of the 2008 season if I’d like to move to that position. For some guys, it’s a stepping stone. I think maybe I am a ‘lifer.’ For me, it’s having one thing on the car that is 100% my responsibility. Regardless of what happens, good or bad, if it has to do with the tires, it is my doing. I like that.”
During the week and in the off-season, what do you do at the shop?
“I’ve been plate assisting a lot and acting as a general shop mechanic.”
What is a memory you have as a tire specialist or just in racing that stands out?
“The 2008 Cup race at the Brickyard [Indianapolis Motor Speedway]. It was the notorious race where the tires were falling apart. They knew we were going to have problems so we were issued our Pocono tires just in case we used up all of our Indy tires. I remember still gluing lug nuts on as the drivers were being introduced for the race. We pitted every 11 laps and changed tires! I barely had time to wear the tires and set the new pressures before the car was back in the pit. It was the longest day of my life!”
Thomas Goodman (No. 10 Toyota Camry)
How did you get into racing?
“Honestly, I was very lucky. I knew someone. I was 19 years old and mowing a yard and I was offered the chance to help out a race team. I’ve worked in racing ever since.”
How did you become a tire specialist and do you think you are a “lifer”?
“I was asked to do tires one day and I just learned it as I went. It was a great experience to have to jump in and just do it. I’d like to use it as a stepping stone in my career. My goal is to continue learn as much as I can about the car and grow with the team.”
During the week and in the off-season, what do you do at the shop?
“Right now I am building front and rear suspensions for the No. 10 car.”
What is a memory you have as a tire specialist or just in racing that stands out?
“The first time I went to Daytona. It was the first track I had ever been to in my entire life so I was just in awe the entire time I was there.”
Mason Jennings (No. 32 Dollar General Toyota)
How did you get into racing?
“I grew up in Oklahoma and followed in my dad’s footsteps racing go-karts. After that I worked on Sprint Cars and eventually made my way to North Carolina and the NASCAR ranks.”
How did you become a tire specialist and do you think you are a “lifer”?
“When I was working for Jimmy Means, he didn’t have anyone doing his tires. I took it on as my job and it just grew from there. It’s all I’ve done in NASCAR and it’s what I’ve become known for. Everyone knows me as Mason, the tire guy. I will probably be a lifetime tire guy, but I would love to learn anything new I can.”
During the week and in the off-season, what do you do at the shop?
“I am a mechanic at the shop. I do just about anything that needs to be done.”
What is a memory you have as a tire specialist or just in racing that stands out?
“My win at Talladega with Bobby Labonte in 2007. It was definitely incredible and something I’ll never forget.”
