NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs will hope to fall back on their notes from last season’s event at Iowa Speedway when setting up their cars for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol; however, they will have to navigate a new wrinkle, as Goodyear Racing will debut a new left-side tire for the NASCAR Cup Series teams this weekend.
Goodyear says the new tire compound (tire code D-5294) was developed following an on-track tire test in May conducted by a representative from each manufacturer. Austin Dillon was on hand for the test for Chevrolet, driving the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing entry; Noah Gragson was there driving the No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse; and Tyler Reddick wheeled the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE.
According to Goodyear, the new left-side tires have been designed to withstand the track’s high speeds and heavy loads, while also promoting increased tire wear and fall-off. The hope is that there will be comers and goers throughout the event around the 0.850-mile short track in Newton, IA.
“Iowa is challenging because of its high cornering speeds and heavy loads,” said Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager. “The Goodyear team has worked closely with the industry to provide a tire package that is ready for that challenge. Following our successful tire test at Iowa in May, we’re bringing a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle featuring an updated construction and compound to help promote more wear and fall-off.”
The new left-side tire compound will be paired with the same right-side tire compound (tire code D-5266) used by teams in this event a season ago.
NASCAR Cup Series teams will be allotted 11 total sets of Goodyear Racing tires for the race weekend at Iowa Speedway. One set will be allotted for practice, while an additional set will be allotted for qualifying. That qualifying set can be transferred to Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350, which will give teams nine fresh sets of tires and one scuffed-in set.
Teams will also have four sets of wet-weather tires at their disposal if Mother Nature intervenes at Iowa Speedway.
This weekend’s event will mark the third-ever NASCAR Cup Series event at Iowa Speedway. William Byron is the defending winner of this event, while Ryan Blaney led 200 of 350 laps in a dominant win in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa in 2024.
Will the use of the brand-new left-side tire compound lead to a third different winner in the third NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway? Only time will tell, but it’ll be interesting to see who hits on their car setups early in the race weekend, and who emerges as the expected frontrunner in the opening laps of Sunday’s race.
