Chase Elliott Questions Goodyear's New Iowa Tire, Warns Racing May Not Change

Iowa Speedway's Cup Series race last year turned into a fuel-saving chess match, with William Byron stretching his tank 145 laps to win the Iowa Corn 350. Now, as NASCAR returns to Newton for the second year, Goodyear has introduced new tires aimed at creating more wear and falloff. But Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott isn't convinced the change will deliver the promised improvement.

Elliott, who didn't get to test the updated tires in May, voiced his doubts during a media availability at Iowa Speedway. 'I would have to imagine it'll be similar,' he said. 'You know, it sounded like the tire that everybody wanted wasn't what they brought back.'

What Did Goodyear Promise for the Iowa Race?

The $1.85 billion tire giant introduced a new left-side tire with updated construction and compound design. The goal was to increase tire wear and falloff, making the race more about tire management and less about fuel mileage. The tires use standard NASCAR stagger, with right-side tires having a larger rolling circumference to help cars turn naturally on the short track.

But Elliott suggested the change may be a production issue for Goodyear, not a true improvement. 'I don't feel it makes the racing a ton different,' he said.

Why Is Elliott Skeptical About the New Tires?

Elliott's main concern is the track surface itself. Iowa Speedway was partially repaved before its Cup debut in 2024, with all four corners getting new asphalt. The following year, in 2025, drivers still struggled to adjust to different grip levels between the old and new pavement.

'It's knowing that you're going to have grip in 100 feet and knowing that I need to be going faster for that grip and getting through the old, less-grippy part of the road and a little bit of a compromised position to get to that fresh spot,' Elliott explained. 'That's the challenge, because they're not married together. They're so different.'

That transition between low-grip old asphalt and high-grip fresh asphalt remains the biggest hurdle, Elliott said, regardless of the tire compound.

What Did Other Drivers and Crew Chiefs Say About the Tires?

In May, Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, and Noah Gragson tested the new tires in a two-day session. While Gragson didn't comment directly, his crew chief Grant Hutchens offered a more optimistic view. 'I would guess we're going to have about double the fall-off we had last year,' Hutchens told NASCAR.com. 'We saw in 45 laps, three-quarters of a second to a second, depending on which cars you were looking at.'

That would be a significant improvement over last year's race, which many fans criticized as a fuel-mileage event rather than a true battle of speed and tire management.

What Does This Mean for the Iowa Corn 350?

For Iowa fans, the question is whether the new tires will deliver the action Goodyear promised. Elliott's doubt is a warning sign for the tire giant, which had hoped to bring more falloff to the race. But if the transition between old and new pavement remains the dominant factor, the racing could look similar to last year.

Elliott's skepticism reflects a broader challenge for NASCAR at Iowa: the track's unique surface. Until the asphalt ages more evenly, tire changes may only have a limited impact.

For now, Elliott is focused on adapting to the track's quirks. 'You have to know where the grip is and where it isn't,' he said. 'That's the real challenge.'

Iowa Corn 350 weekend is set for August 9-10 at Iowa Speedway in Newton.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the new Goodyear tires make the Iowa race more exciting?

Chase Elliott is skeptical, saying the change may not make racing 'a ton different.' Crew chief Grant Hutchens expects about double the tire falloff from last year.

Why did Goodyear change the tires for Iowa?

Last year's race was criticized as a fuel-mileage event. Goodyear introduced a new left-side tire with updated construction and compound to create more tire wear and falloff.

What is the biggest challenge for drivers at Iowa Speedway?

The transition between low-grip old asphalt and high-grip fresh pavement on the partially repaved track remains the biggest challenge, according to Elliott.