As the NASCAR Cup Series makes a highly anticipated return to Kansas Speedway for the second time this season, Goodyear is set to make some changes to the right-side tires.
According to a press release from the tire manufacturer, both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series are going to have a brand-new right-side tire this weekend. This was done in an attempt to give crew chiefs additional strategy options.
In addition to this weekend’s events at Kansas Speedway, the same right-side tire compound will be utilized when both series return to the similarly-configured Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.
“Kansas [Speedway] presents a unique set of conditions for teams — known for its relatively smooth surface, multiple grooves, and close finishes — but recent races have shown notable tire wear,” said Justin Fantozzi, Operations Manager for Global Race Tires at Goodyear.
“For both series, new right-side tires are being introduced after undergoing construction changes to increase strategy options for the crew chiefs. This weekend, teams will need to balance grip with outright speed to maximize performance of these new Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setups.”
NASCAR Cup Series teams will be pairing their brand-new right-side tire with a familiar left-side tire, which has already been used throughout the season in events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Darlington Raceway (August).
Similarly, NASCAR Xfinity Series teams will be debuting their new right-side tire next to a left-side tire they have used several times throughout the year, including races at Texas Motor Spoeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Nashville Superspeedway.
Since the debut of the seventh-generational racecar (NextGen) in 2022, Kansas Speedway has been one of the best racetracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, when it comes to the on-track product. Goodyear is hoping that, with increased strategy options for teams, that this new tire will only bolster the product event more.
In May 2024, Kansas Speedway was the site of the closest finish in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, when Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher raced door-to-door to the start-finish line, and when the checkered flag was displayed, were only separated by 0.001 seconds.
When the NASCAR Cup Series competed at Kansas Speedway earlier this season, Kyle Larson went to Victory Lane in a race that featured 15 total lead changes. Since coming to Kansas with the NextGen car, the average number of lead changes has been 23.
Aric Almirola is the most-recent winner for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Kansas Speedway, winning in the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing last Fall. Almirola is not entered in the Xfinity Series event this weekend.
The Kansas Lottery 300 (Xfinity) will take place Saturday, September 27 at 4:00 PM ET on The CW. The Hollywood Casino 400 (Cup) will take place Sunday, September 28 at 3:00pm ET on USA Network.
