During a NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, teams again pushed the limits on tire air pressures, leading to several tire problems. The track’s notorious bump in Turns 1 and 2 caused cars to frequently bottom out, contributing to two significant crashes involving Ford vehicles: Noah Gragson’s No. 4 car for Front Row Motorsports and Josh Berry’s No. 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing, with Berry sustaining a substantial impact.
Berry, speaking after the crash, confirmed a tire blowout—likely the left rear—caused the accident, expressing frustration over losing control despite not running fast. His simple takeaway was that they need to increase tire pressure to avoid similar issues. Gragson also attributed his spin in the same turns to tire problems. Both drivers sustained enough damage to forfeit qualifying, forcing them to start Sunday’s race from the back, with Berry moving to a backup car.
Other drivers who faced tire troubles during the session included Tyler Reddick (No. 45 Toyota), Ty Gibbs (No. 54 Toyota), and Chris Buescher (No. 17 Ford). Notably, Chevrolet drivers did not report any tire-related issues during practice.
Fan Take: This development highlights the ongoing challenge teams face in balancing tire pressure and handling, especially on demanding tracks like Las Vegas. For NASCAR fans, it raises the stakes for race day, potentially shaking up the starting lineup and adding unpredictable elements to the competition.
Source: www.motorsport.com
