Iowa Speedway’s much-anticipated first Cup Series practice debut took an unexpected turn when Goodyear’s tried and tested tires became the focal point of controversy. While the track has been a host to successful IndyCar and NASCAR events in the past, this time, it was repaved in a rather weird fashion, as expressed by drivers. Hence, post the practice, the NASCAR community saw a challenging combination in place for the inaugural Cup race at Iowa. And well, what was supposed to be a historic event was buried under the laughter of NASCAR fans.

One incident in the list of Iowa tire failures not only disrupted the practice session but also ignited a wave of sarcastic reactions from the racing community. Or perhaps it was just Ross Chastain’s ‘have you ever seen’ moment that made history, as even Dale Jr expressed his shock after what unfolded.

Not a ‘Goodyear’ for the Cup Series at Iowa?

Ross Chastain’s troubles began when his #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet suffered a cut to the left rear tire with under 20 minutes left in the session. Despite avoiding any damage to his car, Chastain couldn’t get it back to the pit area. This led to a comical scene where two trucks worked together to put his car on a dolly. When NASCAR posted this on X, writing, “This is something we have NEVER seen before,” it drew considerable attention and laughter from fans and fellow racers alike.

While this may have been the first time NASCAR saw a dolly being used to get a car off the track, it wasn’t the first time a ‘dolly’ has been linked to Ross Chastain’s car. Back in 2022, in the buildup to the Pennzoil 400, Trackhouse Racing posted a video on Instagram showing off the #1 car’s paint scheme for the race. And, well, country singer Dolly Parton’s face featured on the back fender. The caption read,  “Bring the country music part to the track in Vegas! Oh, and @dollyparton, we hope you don’t mind coming along for the ride.”

Jokes (backed by facts) aside, the incident during practice at Iowa extended the session by 13 minutes and created a social media buzz, with Dale Earnhardt Jr leading the commentary. Replying to NASCAR’s post, Junior – who has admitted, “Ross and me are friends, and I like Ross a lot” – posted a GIF of actor Owen Wilson sarcastically saying, “wow.” Needless to say, the incident left most amused rather than impressed. As for Ross Chastain, though, he seemed to be in a state of confusion.

While speaking to FOX reporter Bob Pockrass, Chastain’s confusion stemmed from both what happened and how his car behaved on the track. When Pockrass asked if he was worried about Sunday’s race because of this, the 31-year-old responded, “It’s neither,” adding, “There’s no telling what happened. So we went back out and made more laps on a new set. So I went out, and I ran my fastest lap five laps later… I don’t know. A lot happened quick there.” 

The Iowa practice run did not witness just one but five tire failure issues. Christopher Bell had to switch to a backup car after a cut tire sent him into the wall. His earlier experience in the Goodyear tire test at the same track made this setback even more surprising. Ty Gibbs did not suffer any damage but had tires go down on the track like Chastain. The tire woes didn’t spare Austin Cindric and Tyler Reddick, either. Cindric’s right front failure led to a collision with the wall, while Reddick managed to stop his car on pit road without further damage after a flat tire.

The series of tire problems have raised several concerns for NASCAR to resolve. Yet, before we hear any updates from the authorities, take a look at how NASCAR fans seem to be masterminds of sarcasm. But some of it was also mixed with the slightest bit of concern.

Ross Chastain’s dolly incident was simply “unbelievable” for fans

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The racing community and fans took to social media with a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern. The practice session was supposed to be for 50 minutes. However, because of the dolly incident, it was extended by 13 minutes. Considering this, many felt it would’ve just been easier and less time-consuming to change the #1 tire on the track. One fan humorously suggested, “Or you know, just change the tire 😂,” while another expressed frustration, “WASTE of time. Just put a damn tire on the car on track. C’mon now!🙄”

Have you ever come across the ‘You can’t park there, sir!’ meme? Well, the situation with Ross Chastain resulted in reactions on similar lines, with one user joking, “Did someone miss a payment or park illegally?” Others shared their insights and constructive criticism. One fan noted, “It was my understanding that this was a new dolly they were testing AND that Goodyear had requested to examine the tires due to the issues they were all having. I think it is much ado about nothing. They added the time back to practice.” This comment highlighted the procedural aspects behind the seemingly unusual decision.

Another fan suggested a more efficient solution: “Love the idea of a dolly but why not use something smaller and more like what tow truck companies use where it’s a small dolly for each rear tire? Then only 1 truck is needed. Lift the rear, slide the dollies under, lower car, swing truck to front lift, and go.” This practical advice reflected the community’s engagement and desire for better solutions.

Despite the humorous undertones, the situation at Iowa Speedway on its Cup Series debut was no laughing matter. The widespread tire issues not only disrupted the practice session but also raised concerns about the race’s integrity and safety. As one fan bluntly put it, “I have never seen anything like this. Unbelievable.”

What are your thoughts on the entire fiasco? Do you think it was unbelievable, too?