As the engines of NASCAR roar into 2025, Joey Logano finds himself at the center of an intense debate surrounding the introduction of Goodyear’s new “option tire.” Logano, with his fair share of experiences involving tire strategy, has been thrust into the middle of this controversy, refusing to pick a clear side.
The Richmond race in the previous year left a bitter taste in Logano’s mouth as he felt the sting of Austin Dillon’s aggressive maneuvers. Dillon’s audacious drive bulldozed Logano’s No. 22 into the wall and hooked Denny Hamlin’s No. 11, snatching a victory that Logano still disputes. His incredulity at the events led to a dramatic tire burnout in front of Dillon’s pit crew, earning him a hefty $50,000 fine.
Despite this, Logano, in a conversation with Bob Pockrass, expressed optimism about Goodyear’s latest tire experiment entering 2025. NASCAR’s introduction of the option tire—a softer compound with a quicker wear time was designed to enhance racing at short tracks, especially Phoenix where the championship race takes place. Logano initially backed the change, dismissing claims of it being a gimmick and expressing his belief in its potential to elevate the sport.
However, the Phoenix race put this new tire to a real-world test and threw Logano’s support into a murky area. The new option tire promised added speed but at the cost of faster wear, pushing teams into a strategic game of tire management. Logano, who benefited from this new technology, struggled to form a concrete opinion about it.
In an interview with SiriusXM Radio, Logano expressed his mixed feelings about the new tire. He acknowledged the new strategic layer it added to the race but questioned its fairness. He likened it to road course racing with a twist, where racers opt to stay out and grab the points. He wondered if it was fair for the fastest cars not to earn the most points.
The Phoenix race saw Logano recover from an early setback due to a restart violation on lap 18, thanks to the new option tire. His team’s bold strategy to use the softer tire at the start of Stage 2 saw him cut through the field and regain lost positions. However, this strategy limited his ability to push his car late in the race, leading to a 13th-place finish.
Logano also pointed out Ty Dillon’s strong performance in Phoenix. Dillon, despite not having a very fast car, was able to secure a high finish due to the right tire strategy. This statement underscored Logano’s concern about the new tire turning the race into a game of strategy over speed.
Goodyear viewed the Phoenix race as a validation of their new option tire. The tire, according to a Goodyear spokesperson, did what it was designed to do—creating passing opportunities and forcing teams into strategic decisions. Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, and Erik Jones’ performances further emphasized the effectiveness of the option tire.
However, Logano remains on the fence. While acknowledging the excitement the softer tires brought to the race, he voiced concerns about whether they undermine the importance of pure speed. This is a conundrum NASCAR will have to address before the championship race at Phoenix.
Adding to Logano’s woes is a bizarre pit stop incident in Las Vegas, where he led for 40 laps before a caution forced him into a pit stop. Missing his marks entering the pit box cost him valuable time and a strong finish, adding to a string of disappointments in the 2025 season. Denny Hamlin, who himself has had run-ins with Logano, sympathized with him, acknowledging the impact of his mistake.
As Logano navigates these choppy waters, he knows that he can’t afford any more mistakes. Having won the Cup Series title last year after an initially rocky start, he’s aware of what’s at stake. With the introduction of the option tire upending strategies and stirring controversy, the 2025 NASCAR season promises to be an exciting one. Logano’s stance on the issue and the impacts of the option tire on the race will undoubtedly be a storyline to watch.
