Kyle Larson, a two-time winner at Watkins Glen International, is approaching this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race with some hesitation due to recent changes in tire compounds by Goodyear. Despite his strong history on the 2.45-mile road course, Larson is still adjusting to the new softer tires, which have altered the dynamics of his performance.
Larson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, expressed his concerns about adapting to the updated Goodyear tire compound during a pre-race interview on SiriusXM <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR Radio, emphasizing the difficulty the new tires pose to his usual driving style.
How Larson’s Driving Style Clashes with the Softer Tires
During the interview, Larson explained that the softer road course tire introduced in recent seasons has proven challenging for him, as it doesn’t match well with how he drives, especially over extended runs. He described the compound as softer than previous versions, which affects how the tires perform during the race.
“Well, I mean I like to go to places that we’ve had a history of winning at, but the newer road course tire, I just haven’t quite gotten the feel for it that I need,”
Larson said.
I think it’s a softer compound, and I think that just doesn’t lend itself well to me. I sometimes abuse the tires some, and it is just not good for the long run.”
Larson pointed out that although common advice such as “be smoother” and “don’t be so aggressive” might seem straightforward, adapting to these Goodyear Racing Eagle tires demands a refined driving technique that he is still working to master.
“It’s obviously easy to say, oh, well, just be smoother, don’t be so aggressive, and things like that. But there’s still a technique that goes along with it that your driver’s gotta try and figure out.”
He highlighted the hard work by both himself and his team to hone in a car setup that better aligns with his style and allows him to drive effectively under these new conditions.
“But hopefully going back a walk through this weekend, going back a second time with a softer tire, we can have a package that kind of suits my style a little bit better and I can drive the car the right way and do a good job. So I know the team’s working really hard, and as well as I am trying to figure out what it takes to be good,”
Larson added.
Looking Ahead to Watkins Glen with Determination
Despite these complications, Larson remains focused and optimistic about tackling the Watkins Glen race, eager to translate his past success to the new tire conditions. He won at this track in 2021 and 2022 before the introduction of the latest tire compound, which debuted earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
The current Goodyear road course tire has been designed to increase wear and performance drop-off during races, adding a strategic element for drivers and teams to manage. Larson’s efforts to adapt to these changes underscore the ongoing challenge that the new tires present across NASCAR.
“So I look forward to the challenge this weekend and hopefully we can have a solid, solid day,”
Larson said.
As the weekend unfolds at Watkins Glen International in New York, Larson’s ability to refine his technique with the softer Goodyear tires will be crucial to his performance and could impact his pursuit of another victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.
