NASCAR Teams Accused of Aggressive Air Pressure at Phoenix Race

Insiders say teams pushed tire pressure limits, leading to blowouts in the final stage.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:49pm

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NASCAR insiders Tommy Baldwin and Randy LaJoie discussed teams getting too aggressive with air pressure during the recent Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. They said teams were pushing the limits on tire pressure, brake cooling, and camber in an effort to gain speed, even though it went against Goodyear's recommended guidelines. Driver Brad Keselowski confirmed that no teams followed Goodyear's recommended pressures, with an "inside joke" of subtracting 2 PSI. The final stage of the Phoenix race featured multiple tire issues for drivers as a result.

Why it matters

Tire pressure and performance is a constant balancing act in NASCAR, as teams try to maximize speed while staying within safety limits. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between teams pushing the envelope and the sanctioning body's efforts to maintain control and safety. It also raises questions about the relationship between Goodyear and the drivers, who seem to have made an unspoken "pact" to not criticize the tire supplier if they provide more aggressive compounds.

The details

According to the insiders, teams were aggressively adjusting air pressure, brake cooling, and camber settings in an effort to gain speed at Phoenix. This led to multiple tire failures in the final stage of the race. Goodyear had issued a pre-race warning to drivers about not following the recommended tire pressures, but the teams ignored this advice in pursuit of a competitive advantage.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway took place last Sunday.
  • Goodyear issued a pre-race warning to drivers about tire pressures before the Phoenix race.

The players

Tommy Baldwin

A NASCAR insider and former crew chief who discussed the air pressure issues on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.

Randy LaJoie

A NASCAR insider and former driver who discussed the air pressure issues on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.

Brad Keselowski

A NASCAR driver who confirmed that teams did not follow Goodyear's recommended tire pressures at Phoenix.

Goodyear

The tire supplier for NASCAR who issued a pre-race warning about tire pressures at Phoenix.

Ryan Blaney

The driver who won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.

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What they’re saying

“You can't change anything after inspection, so the only thing they had to change is air pressure. A lot of it has to do with the brake cooling, too. I think some guys were a little aggressive on that, and it matches the camber. You got break temp, you got camber, and you got air pressure. Those three things cause a tire to blow.”

— Tommy Baldwin, NASCAR Insider

“The less air makes me go faster? Take all the air out. Let's go. As far as a driver, you just want the fastest thing, and if you don't know what you don't know.”

— Randy LaJoie, NASCAR Insider

“I can promise you nobody ran the recommended pressures at Phoenix. Whatever they run, there's always kind of like this inside joke in the garage area, like just subtract two. And that's probably still safe. But nobody ran those.”

— Brad Keselowski

What’s next

The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday for the Pennzoil 400.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tension in NASCAR between teams pushing the limits of performance and the sanctioning body's efforts to maintain safety and control. It also raises questions about the relationship between tire suppliers like Goodyear and the drivers, who seem willing to ignore recommended guidelines in pursuit of a competitive edge.