NASCAR Cup Series drivers take to Iowa Speedway for Goodyear tire test ahead of Iowa Corn 350
Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, and Chase Briscoe were at the speedway for the Goodyear Tire Test ahead of the Iowa Corn 350 in August. The test helps Goodyear collect data to decide the types of tires needed to perform the best on the track.
And while conditions on Tuesday were far from what they'll be in August, drivers were still eager to hit the pavement.
Iowa small business owners asking for relief in tariff war
'I feel like the things that we kinda learned so far are what tires not to bring back and race here, as we found one that just really, really wasn't conducive or comfortable to drive as a driver,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Kyle Busch.
Last year, the Iowa Speedway underwent a partial repave of the track's four turns, with Cup drivers last year saying that the change added some additional challenges to the race. On Tuesday, drivers echoed those concerns during the tire test.
'It's kind of wild how much the color has changed since we were here last time. It was like jet black, and now it's like you almost don't even know it was repaved. But I would say that the grip levels are still fairly similar,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Austin Cindric.
'It's really tough when you come to, especially a fresh repave, because getting the rubber laid down is part of the process, and today it was one of those things where it was kind of challenging. You get here and it's super slick, it's almost like we're driving on ice,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Chase Briscoe.
Despite the repave, each driver stated how they are excited to see the Cup Series return to the Iowa Speedway on August 3.
Iowa News:
NASCAR Cup Series drivers take to Iowa Speedway for Goodyear tire test ahead of Iowa Corn 350
Change of venue granted for embattled Madison County Treasurer, upcoming trial moved to Boone County
Rain totals, lingering smoke, and the forecast
Iowa small business owners asking for relief in tariff war
Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Crystal Palace 2025-26 season preview: A trophy in the bag but Glasner needs new signings
It has been a whirlwind few months for Crystal Palace. From the heights of winning the FA Cup in May, they descended into a summer of anxiety and, eventually, fury at the injustice of being demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League amid representation to UEFA and a failed appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Advertisement Yet manager Oliver Glasner still led them to victory in the Community Shield. Even if the administrative drama has dominated the summer, that latest afternoon at Wembley was one of joy. Soon, attention will turn back to the pitch for what will probably be another dramatic campaign. So what state are the club in? Much depends on what happens in the final weeks of the transfer window, but there is still hope Palace can have a successful season again. That would mean going deep in the Conference League — a competition won by West Ham United and Chelsea in two of the last three years — and at least maintaining last season's 12th-place Premier League finish. Palace have strengthened in goal and at left wing-back. After No 2 goalkeeper Matt Turner's season-long loan from Nottingham Forest ended, Walter Benitez signed on a free transfer following the expiry of his PSV contract. He will predominantly be back-up for No 1 Dean Henderson. Borna Sosa was signed for just £2million ($2.7m) from Ajax and will cover and compete with Tyrick Mitchell, who has not had a direct challenger for his position since Patrick van Aanholt left four years ago. Sosa's arrival should help push Mitchell to improve in attack, the weaker part of his game even if it has come on significantly since he broke into the first team in 2020. Pretty much everyone. Sosa aside, none of their targets to strengthen their first-choice XI and create the level of competition that Glasner has desired to push his existing squad to further improve have joined. 'If we want to be competitive, we need players with quality,' Glasner said in his pre-match Community Shield press conference last Friday. 'This is what we have to do in the next three weeks (before the transfer window closes). We have six games from Sunday until the end of August. We have to act. Advertisement 'We definitely need two more players. One at the back, one in attack. We have good numbers, good quality, good competition. Challenging players for the top level is what we need.' Julian Speroni, whose 15 years as a Palace player earned him hero status at the club, is back as interim first-team goalkeeping coach following the departure of Dean Kiely, having been promoted from the academy role he has held since October 2022. 'When I found out they needed a coach, I said: 'Of course, I'll do it',' Speroni told reporters after the Community Shield win over Liverpool. 'I've been so lucky to work with them, gain some experience and see how they work. We will see what happens in the future. I don't want to jump into anything yet. Whatever they need me to be, I will be. 'It is different from working with the younger players (where) you are focusing on their development. But they're both enjoyable. 'Nothing replaces playing. I was out there today and I felt like I wanted to play. But coaching gives you a different kind of reward, a different kind of nice feeling when you achieve what you want to achieve.' The position vacated by Kiely has been advertised. Jean-Philippe Mateta has impressed and looks ready to continue the outstanding form he has demonstrated over the past 18 months. His has been a prolific pre-season. He opened the scoring in the 3-0 win over Crawley Town and looked sharp, leading the line well and linking with Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Daichi Kamada. He scored against his former club Mainz, too, and twice against Augsburg during Palace's training camp in Austria. Then drew Palace level from the penalty spot against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday. As difficult as it is, given the fury over the injustice of being denied what they believe is their rightful place in the Europa League, Palace fans ought to look forward to following their team in Europe for the first time. These are heady days for the club and that is something to hold onto and appreciate. Advertisement The lack of new signings, which makes their squad horribly thin outside of the starting XI. There are excellent options in midfield with Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma to compete with Kamada and Adam Wharton — and Cheick Doucoure to return to fitness — but they are struggling for strength in depth in other positions. Throw in the possibility that either or both of Marc Guehi and Eze could leave before the month is out and the level of concern would increase significantly. He, too, is concerned by the addition of only two players this summer. He made that clear in an interview given to Austrian media on the club's pre-season training camp, and has since spoken about the importance of at least a further two arriving if Palace are to replicate or improve on the success of last season. His ambition has not been matched and that should be a concern. Less than 100 per cent. Particularly if he is not placated in the market. Palace win the Conference League because, well, why not? Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
11 hours ago
- New York Times
NASCAR considering moving All-Star Race to Dover: Sources
As NASCAR works to finalize its 2026 Cup Series schedule, a last-minute wrinkle has emerged: the increasing possibility of moving the All-Star Race to Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware, sources familiar with the discussions but not authorized to speak freely have told The Athletic. Dover hosting the All-Star Race would then clear a spot for North Wilkesboro Speedway to land a Cup points race, something the venerable North Carolina short track — which has held the non-points All-Star since 2023 — has not done since 1996. Advertisement No decision is final on the location of the All-Star Race, but such a move is under serious consideration. NASCAR is targeting next week to release the full 2026 Cup schedule. Speedway Motorsports owns Dover and North Wilkesboro, making a swap of the All-Star Race between the tracks fairly straightforward. The All-Star Race is traditionally held in May, a week before Memorial Day Weekend, and that is expected again next year, whether the race is held at Dover or North Wilkesboro. Whichever track is selected to host a points race would then be slotted somewhere in the summer, according to sources. The Athletic previously reported North Wilkesboro was expected to host the All-Star Race again, and that was the intention up until this last-minute change in direction. The annual non-points All-Star Race has bounced around to various tracks in recent years, shifting in 2020 from its longtime home at Charlotte Motor Speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway, then to Texas Motor Speedway for two years (2021-2022) before landing at North Wilkesboro. Charlotte, Bristol and Texas are all owned by Speedway Motorsports. Dover is a one-mile concrete surface track that has hosted NASCAR premier series races since 1969. Speedway Motorsports purchased the facility in 2021 for $131.5 million. The return of North Wilkesboro to the points side of the Cup schedule represents a remarkable transformation for a track that, not too long ago, was crumbling to the ground. The beloved short track, which opened in 1947, was a mainstay on the Cup calendar before losing both its points race following the 1996 season, largely due to facilities deemed insufficient at a time when NASCAR was experiencing rapid growth and seeing modern tracks added to the schedule. As part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act passed to stimulate the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper allocated $40 million for infrastructural improvements at three racetracks in North Carolina, one of which was North Wilkesboro. Advertisement Speedway Motorsports president and CEO Marcus Smith then set about modernizing North Wilkesboro, with the intent of NASCAR possibly returning one day. That moment occurred in 2023, and ever since, there has been a push for the track to again host a points race. That moment may now come as soon as 2026. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Corey LaJoie ready to 'have a little fun' with Spire's Truck team
Very few drivers find themselves in a position to get a new ride with only eight races left in a season. Insert Corey Lajoie, who will take over the driving duties in the No. 77 Craftsman Truck Series entry for Spire Motorsports for the rest of 2025 after it was announced that Andrés Pérez de Lara would move over to the No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for the remainder of the year. The former driver of the No. 7 Spire Chevy in the Cup Series entered the 2025 season without a full-time seat in any of the three NASCAR national series. Still under contract with the team, LaJoie has made one appearance in the Truck Series, driving the No. 07 for Spire when the opportunity arose at Michigan and finished fifth. RELATED: | 'They had a team shuffle with the 77 and it's consolidated some efforts and some personnel,' LaJoie told 'And maybe because they already told me that we're going to finish the year, they just plug me into it to have a little fun, try to contend for some wins. And it's been fun working with Chad Walter in that No. 77 group. 'I think it really is, truly, they're trying to get their money's worth out of me. The last couple of months, they're paying me out of the contract. So it gets me off the couch. Get me out of my, you know, blowing some leaves and raking my backyard on a Sunday afternoon or Saturdays. Nonetheless, I want to go out there and give those guys a good effort.' LaJoie is entering the final stretch of the Truck Series with a fresh mindset, one focused on chasing checkered flags, racing on his favorite tracks, and reconnecting with familiar faces. 'There's a lot of my favorite race tracks in the Truck Series Playoffs,' LaJoie added. 'So it'll be cool to be in that garage and see some familiar faces. It's also cool to go back through the shop and see a lot of familiar faces. I've been used to being around for the last couple years, so it's nice to see that and have those conversations. But anytime you can drive, get behind the wheel or something, especially a good truck like that, I'm ready and willing to do.' As with any situation in life, there is always another side to the coin. The host of the 'Stacking Pennies Podcast' has enjoyed the time away from the demanding grind that is the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. MORE: When it comes to a potential return to full-time racing at any level, LaJoie is taking it one day at a time, unsure what the future holds and when or if he will want to jump back into the seat every weekend. 'It's been a nice little change of pace this year,' LaJoie said. 'You know, I think I've been pretty outspoken with my desire to drive in the Cup Series. And, you know, as hard and as mentally and physically and just overall time-consuming being a Cup driver is, it would have to be a really enticing scenario to go back and commit to that grind and that experience and that adventure, because it really is an all-consuming 24/7 profession. 'I'm not beating on anybody's door to go back to Sunday racing and or even to drive it all if it really has to be people who I want to do it with. It has to be a situation where it makes sense, and if not, then I'll just do something else. For the first time in my life, I'm not chasing the dragon because, you know, probably a little bit disgruntled with how everything's went the last 12 months anyways. 'But to be able to plug and recharge the battery and kind of take the blinders off and see the sport a bit more for what it is. See it more as a media side with the podcast and analysts on Amazon; it was a lot of fun. I'm pretty content with where I'm at now.'
