Goodyear brings tried-and-true setup to Chase race at Gateway

Here is the thing about at Gateway: it is a very unique track that throws serious heat and stress right at the rubber. So, for Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300, Goodyear is keeping things familiar by bringing back the exact same tire configuration used at last season's event. (Yes, that event was won by current points leader .)

This 240-lap, 300-mile battle on the 1.25-mile oval marks the first time this specific combination has been put to work this season, though teams do have some data to lean on. The right-side tire was also in action last month at . As Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager, pointed out, the choice of Goodyear Racing Eagles combined with data from Iowa means teams should have plenty of information to help dial in their setups.

Meanwhile, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is getting its own specific rubber assignment for Saturday’s Nu Way 225. That field will roll out on the exact same combination that raced at Raceway in March, a setup that actually utilized the right-side tires from last season's Gateway race.

Both series are heading into the second race in The Chase postseason this weekend. To manage the rubber across the events, strict allotments are in place. Cup Series squads get 12 total sets, broken down into 9 new sets for the race, 2 for practice, and 1 for qualifying that transfers over to the race. Over in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, teams are limited to 5 total sets, consisting of 3 new for the race, 1 for practice, and 1 for qualifying which also transfers straight to the race.