Goodyear returns to Chicagoland with proven tire strategy
It has been a long wait, but NASCAR is finally heading back to the 1.5-mile oval at Chicagoland Speedway. Since the last national series visit in 2019, the demand for rubber has remained consistent, and Goodyear Racing is betting on familiar setups to handle the pressure in Joliet.
The Cup Series will run tires most recently utilized at Nashville Superspeedway, with the left-side compound having already seen duty at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Meanwhile, the O’Reilly Series will rely on a right-side tire that first appeared at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Following an April test session featuring Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Justin Allgaier, and Brandon Jones, the manufacturer is confident that this proven package is the correct path forward.
Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager, noted that the test was crucial for gathering data on the surface. “The April test gave us valuable information and confirmed that our proven intermediate package is the right choice for this event,” he stated. With inner liners mandated for both series, it is clear that the focus is on stability as the sport makes its high-stakes return to Illinois.
