“What was really exciting was how different teams used the option tire at different times to accomplish their own goals.

“For example, Daniel Suarez put them on early in the race and charged from the middle of the pack to take the lead, while Kyle Busch put them on at the end of Stage 2 to try to get a lap back.

“Overall, the primes/options tire set-ups highlighted the risk versus reward we were exactly looking for.”

NASCAR has attempted option tires twice before, during its annual exhibition All-Star race, but the technology still needed work before it could come into its own. But the tires’ performance on Sunday night was a huge success.

The fate of the option tire, however, is still up in the air. Though the experiment was successful, NASCAR and Goodyear are likely to return to the drawing board to continue refining the product — especially as Playoffs approach.

The tires provided a much needed burst of levity in an otherwise controversy-ridden race, as Austin Dillon wrecked two cars to win. Option tires and alternate compounds have the ability to lend greater legitimacy to stock car racing.