NASCAR star Kyle Busch issues Phoenix verdict as Cup Series takes big gamble

NASCAR has made a controversial decision ahead of this weekend's Cup Series race in Phoenix, but Kyle Busch has revealed how the teams and drivers will cope.

Back in November, you might recall the small matter of the championship race being held at the 1-mile track in Arizona, and a major issue that plagued it.

During those 312 laps of action, multiple drivers suffered tire blowouts, including championship contenders Chase Briscoe and William Byron.

Byron's late blowout, which saw the race go under caution and head to overtime, had a massive effect on the outcome of the race result and the championship, with Kyle Larson eventually going on to win after a superior strategy call over Denny Hamlin.

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Kyle Busch on Phoenix tire strategy

Considering the above, it was quite the surprise earlier this week when Goodyear announced that they and NASCAR were bringing the same tire compound back to Phoenix for Sunday's race.

Of course, this time around, the teams know what to expect, which could make a major difference. Busch certainly thinks that the Cup Series garage will adopt a more gentle approach this time around.

“I think you’ll see a more conservative approach with tires this weekend," Busch explained.

"Just because it’s the beginning of the season, and people wanting to take care of their equipment and try to get through the West Coast swing.

"So, you definitely don’t want to be tearing up too much equipment.”

Busch: Dog Leg makes Phoenix Raceway unique

In further comments, Busch touched on what makes the track in Phoenix so unique, referencing the iconic Dog Leg - a sharp, inward bend on the race track just after the start/finish line.

“Phoenix Raceway is a really cool racetrack because it’s only a mile in length, but it still races like a big track," the two-time Cup champion said.

"Some of the most exciting opportunities at Phoenix to set up passes and make moves are on restarts. Everybody is so close together at the dogleg, which is really unique because it lends itself to ten-wide racing where you can be ten lanes wide with grooves to operate in.

"You’re going to venture to get away from everybody that’s around you, but it all funnels down to about two to three lanes wide when you get to the corners, so it gets pretty tight when you get into the turns. You want to make your passes right after the restarts.”

NASCAR Cup Series race action in Phoenix is scheduled for Sunday, March 8 at 3:30pm ET (FS1).