Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson Skeptical of Goodyear Efforts to Boost NASCAR’s Worst Experience in the Next-Gen Car

NASCAR’s innovative stints have drawn flak from fans and drivers alike. The most prominent recent example is the Next-Gen car, a 2022 invention. Although meant to enhance passing on tracks, it has turned out to do the opposite due to aerodynamic weaknesses. However, this year’s Bristol race was a blip on the radar.

Goodyear received waves of applause for offering high-wear tires that worked wonders on the short track. In an attempt to replicate that success, the company tried again at North Wilkesboro Speedway, albeit without much success. Now the tire brand’s focus is on Iowa, but veterans like Kyle Larson are not too sure about it.

Goodyear’s trial is not promising for Kyle Larson

Hosting the first-ever Cup race in its 18-year-old history, Iowa Speedway is gearing up for a grand event. The 7/8 mile oval is known as ‘the fastest short track on the planet’, and holds sweet memories for drivers in Xfinity and Craftsman Truck races. Back in a 2019 tire test, Cole Custer said about Iowa: “I love the surface here, it’s so bumpy and so wore out, it makes for good racing.” Recently drivers including Kyle Larson criticized NASCAR for repaving the track, but only partially. 

Goodyear also held a tire test a few days ago. Prominent Cup drivers like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Brad Keselowski were roped in. While still nursing his wounds from his dashed Double plan, Larson chose to return to a stock car early. Plus he even forewent a popular late-model race at Grandview Speedway for the tire test ahead of the Iowa Corn 350.

But the tire results evidently drooped his spirits further. In a recent Frontstretch interview, Kyle Larson explained that the tires lacked grip. “The test was difficult with just three cars…really a brand new surface, so gosh, it took probably four hours or so until we could actually like get some grip and make some decent laps. But yeah, I think with 30 or whatever cars, the groove should widen out from what it was…It was just 4 feet wide, you know, wherever you can put your right sides in…It does have some progressive banking, so it should hopefully be a little bit better.”

Brad Keselowski, the speedway’s first NASCAR winner in 2009, echoed Kyle Larson’s apprehensions. He stressed that like the half-hearted repaving, the tire work was also incomplete. “But you know they were going to bring out the tire dragons and do some more work…I’m always hesitant to lock something in like that when there’s more work being done. So I’m optimistic that the track is going to bring the tire dragons and all those things out, and that’ll open up the track to multi-groove racing…certainly was not the way it was at the test.”

As the veterans gave their verdict, the tires may be bound to be a bore at the Iowa race. Yet the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural entry would be exciting, with a special sponsor by its side.

Iowa race is advocating green fuel

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Tickets are sold out almost two weeks before the commencement of the Iowa race. Both the Iowa Corn 350 and the Hy-Vee PERKS 250, the Xfinity race, are full-house. The primary reason may be the unique sponsor upholding the Cup event- Iowa Corn. Committed to sustainable initiatives, this brand will showcase the performance of ethanol as fuel in the short track.

Stan Nelson, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board President, explained how ethanol can be beneficial for the environment. “I’m pleased to share with the NASCAR family, why choosing higher blends of ethanol benefits everyone. We can make a sustainable difference today, without buying a whole new vehicle, but by simply choosing to fuel up with ethanol at the pump. And not only are we benefiting the environment but also our economy as ethanol is the most affordable renewable fuel option on the market today.”

Signaling NASCAR’s upgrade to being a more relevant sport to global problems, Iowa-Corn’s sponsorship shows promise. Hence despite Kyle Larson’s apprehensions about the racing product, the first Iowa Cup race may shine for other reasons.