As the NASCAR Cup Series prepares for its upcoming race at Dover Motor Speedway, Chase Briscoe faces an unfamiliar challenge with Goodyear’s newly introduced tire compound. Crafted exclusively for the Monster Mile’s summer event, this tire aims to tackle the unique conditions brought on by Dover’s heat and concrete surface, although its ultimate performance remains uncertain. Briscoe and other drivers must wait until race day to understand how this new rubber will influence speed and handling.
Switching from Road Courses to Dover’s High-Speed Oval Brings New Tire Challenges
After two weeks of competing on road courses, the Cup Series shifts to the demanding concrete oval of Dover, where summer’s extreme heat is expected to push track conditions to their limits. NASCAR’s schedule adjustment moved Dover’s race into midsummer, prompting Goodyear to design a unique tire compound tailored to withstand soaring temperatures and Dover’s slick surface. This one-time 2025 experiment has drivers approaching the event with both anticipation and caution.
Chase Briscoe, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, shared his perspective during a SiriusXM NASCAR panel discussion. Concerning the tire’s behavior during race runs, he said,
“It is definitely one of those things you don’t really know what you’ve got until you get there. You know, on the sim I would say it’s definitely fast. It just has a lot of grip compared to at least what we were in last year, so that’ll be interesting to see if the fall-off is more extreme.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
The increased grip provided by this new tire is a major change from prior Dover tire setups. This boost in traction could impact both qualifying performance and race strategies, especially since Dover is a venue where tire management and car control are crucial to success.
Expectations for Speed and the Qualifying Challenge with Fresh Tires
Briscoe voiced optimism that the new Goodyear tire will lead to quicker qualifying times, a trend he has observed on other circuits so far this season. Commenting on qualifying speeds, he noted,
“I definitely think the qualifying speeds are gonna be faster. We’ve kind of seen that everywhere. At least with the left-side tire, wherever we run it, we just have way more grip and way more potential in our cars.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
However, the combination of Dover’s fast concrete track and the intensified grip presents heightened risks during qualifying sessions. Briscoe acknowledged this difficulty, adding,
“Qualifying will definitely be one that gets your attention. It always does at Dover, but with increased grip and speed, even more so. So yeah, looking forward to the challenge of that and just seeing where we end up stacking up and what this tire does.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
According to announcements, this fresh Goodyear tire setup will be used only once at Dover throughout the entire 2025 season. The left-side tire is coded D5240, measuring 2,254 millimeters in circumference, while the right-side tire carries the code D5260 at 2,277 millimeters.
Teams Face New Strategic Demands with Tire Allocation Limits
Each NASCAR team will receive 11 sets of these new Dover-specific tires: nine sets earmarked for race use, one for qualifying, and one allocated for practice. With such limited tire availability, crew chiefs must optimize their single practice session to gather essential data that will inform tire management decisions during qualifying and the race itself.
The unknown rate of tire degradation adds a layer of complexity to pit strategy. Teams known for strong long-run performances could encounter unexpected difficulties if this new compound exhibits a faster or different falloff pattern. Conversely, cars that have struggled with handling at Dover may benefit from the enhanced grip, potentially improving their competitiveness.
This uncertainty also affects overall race tactics. Without reliable historical tire data, predicting performance over extended runs is difficult. A crew chief adept at interpreting how the new tires wear could gain a strategic edge that translates into better track position for their driver.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Chase Briscoe be in 2025?
A. In 2025, Chase Briscoe will become part of Joe Gibbs Racing, which has won championships. He will drive the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE after Martin Truex, Jr. retires.
Q. Where is Chase Briscoe going in 2025?
A. In 2025, Chase Briscoe will become part of Joe Gibbs Racing’s team, known for winning championships, and will drive the No.
