Goodyear Fast Facts: Martinsville Speedway

Oct. 24, 2017

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Race No. 33 – First Data 500
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Race No. 20 – Texas Roadhouse 200

Multiple Challenges Packed Into Short Track at Martinsville: The tire set-up at Martinsville Speedway is a prime example of Goodyear’s testing program and how the tiremaker keeps up with tracks. Because of the time of year the NASCAR Cup circuit races at Martinsville, cool temperatures usually prevail. With that, and the added challenge of laying rubber down on the smooth, concrete corners of the half-mile oval, Goodyear tested at Martinsville in advance of the 2017 season and brought a new right-side tire to the track for the spring race. The results were spot on as the tire set-up laid down rubber, making for multiple racing grooves and better racing on what was already one of the most exciting tracks on the schedule. 

In addition to the tread compound being important, the tire construction brought to Martinsville is equally so, handling the harsh demands of acceleration, deceleration and cornering required on the long straightaways and tight, flat turns.
    
"Goodyear will bring the same tire set-up to Martinsville for the October race that was debuted in the spring,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “This combination was developed specifically for Martinsville, and its unique, flat, concrete corners.  The package features a right side tread compound formulated to lay rubber quickly on this tricky surface, which leads to multiple racing grooves. During the spring race, the tire did exactly that, turning the light-colored concrete corners to black, and opening up the outside groove which made for great side-by-side racing all afternoon."
 
Notes: Teams in both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run the same tire set-up at Martinsville this weekend, the same tire set-up teams in these two series ran at this track in April. This left-side tire code (D-4588) has been run at this track since April 2013, while this right-side tire code (D-4722) debuted this spring. This is the only track at which NASCAR teams will run either of these two tire codes.

As on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.

Related

Continental Tire the Americas LLC
Mickey Thompson Tire & Wheels
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Latest in Racing