NASCAR will debut a new "Option" tire with improved grip during the March 9 Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR announced Wednesday that the option tire will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for the spring weekend at Phoenix Raceway. It will be the same process that was utilized for the summer race at Richmond Raceway last year where each Cup Series team was given six primary sets of tires for the race and

If the option tire works well, it will become the primary tire for the championship race at in November at Phoenix.

Similar to the late summer race at Richmond Raceway and All Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year, the