​NASCAR is returning to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for the first time since 2019, and although the 1.5-mile oval has been off the Cup Series schedule for seven years, the tire package won’t surprise teams. Goodyear has selected a proven setup for NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland, offering a combination that teams have already used on multiple intermediate tracks this season. Here’s what fans need to know before the green flag.
Why NASCAR chose this tire setup: Even though Chicagoland hasn’t hosted Cup racing since Alex Bowman’s 2019 victory, teams already have extensive data for this weekend’s tire package. Rather than introducing a new construction or compound, Goodyear opted for combinations that have been successful on the 2026 schedule. The Cup Series will use the same tire package that most recently appeared at Nashville Superspeedway, with the left-side tire also having seen action this season at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. For the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, teams will race on a right-side tire that debuted at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this year, paired with a left-side tire most recently used at Nashville. Goodyear confirmed that both series will race with inner liners, standard on tracks measuring a mile or longer.
Chicagoland test helped shape the weekend: Goodyear’s final tire selection was guided by NASCAR’s April organizational test at Chicagoland Speedway. The test included Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin, representing Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, along with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones. According to Goodyear NASCAR product manager Rick Heinrich, the April session validated that the established intermediate-track package is the right choice for this return. “Although teams have not raced at Chicagoland since 2019, they have lots of data on their Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setups for this weekend,” Heinrich said. “The April test gave us valuable information and confirmed that our proven intermediate package is the right choice for this event. With the race falling on the Fourth of July weekend and plenty of excitement around NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland, our focus remains on providing teams with proven performance.”
Tire allotments for Chicagoland weekend: Each Cup Series team will receive 12 total tire sets—eight new sets for the race, one qualifying set that transfers to the race, and three for practice. Each NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team will receive seven total sets—four new race sets, one qualifying set that transfers to the race, and two practice sets.
Using a familiar tire package should help teams quickly find speed as NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019, while still delivering the tire wear and performance teams expect.