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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - APRIL 09: The #18 M&M's Crunchy Cookie Toyota, driven by Kyle Busch, sits covered on pit road during a rain delay prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 at Martinsville Speedway on April 09, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - APRIL 09: The #18 M&M's Crunchy Cookie Toyota, driven by Kyle Busch, sits covered on pit road during a rain delay prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 at Martinsville Speedway on April 09, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Update: NASCAR expected to have wet weather package for short tracks next season

December 23, 2022 at 4:06 AM

Update (12-22-2022): Bozi Tatarevic from Round and Track posted the Cup Series race packages — in regards to tires — for the upcoming 2023 season. Rain tires could be used at shorter oval tracks, such as the LA Coliseum, Martinsville, New Hampshire, North Wilkesboro, Phoenix and Richmond.

Of all 38 races, including two exhibitions, rain tires could be viable in 15 races.

Original Post (10-18-2022): NASCAR has been looking at solutions to mitigate rain delays at races. According to multiple sources in the NASCAR paddock, the series is planning to debut a wet weather package with rain tires for some short ovals next year. Like the package used on road courses, it will include a windshield wiper, flaps behind the wheels, rain lights on the back of the car, and Goodyear rain tires, of course.

Wet weather tires have been discussed and tested prior to the debut of the NASCAR Next Gen car. Now, our sources say NASCAR is forging ahead with implementing this plan for certain short ovals in 2023. One development in the package that will be seen in 2023 is an updated rain light. It will still flash in wet weather conditions, but will now go solid when the driver gets on the brakes, a huge help when visibility is low and drivers can’t tell when the car in front starts braking. There will be two rectangular lights mounted inside the rear window and two lights mounted below between the rear bumper and diffuser.

The short oval tracks that are likely to see the availability of the wet weather package include places like Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, along with the possibility of others like New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

— Road and Track —