The NASCAR weekend at Dover Motor Speedway will feature a twist for Cup Series competitors. They will have to account for a new tire compound that they have not previously tested.
According to information provided by Goodyear, the teams will have a brand-new tire designed specifically for the Monster Mile's concrete surface. The official tire provider of NASCAR says that this new tire is designed for the "high speeds and high loads" that the track is known for.
The teams will not use this tire compound, which they did not test before the race weekend, at any other track this season.
He’s been waiting. 👀
Now it’s our turn, @NASCAR Nation! pic.twitter.com/FaW5Tptp2t
— Dover Motor Speedway (@MonsterMile) July 13, 2025
"Laying rubber down on the concrete surface is a key factor in the design of our tread compounds for Dover," said Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager in a press release.
"While the track turns black as cars lay rubber down during green flag racing, the hot tires then pick up this same rubber when the track cools under cautions. Dover presents a unique opportunity to engineer a tire to help in laying down rubber on a particularly smooth surface, and we've designed the product to do just that."
Prior to the 2021 season, the introduction of a new tire compound at Dover Motor Speedway would be a little less of a concern. After all, the teams would have two trips to the 1-mile track annually.
They could use the first trip to gather notes about the tire, the falloff rate, and other factors. They could then use the second trip to put that data to use and better contend for the win.
The 2021 season changed the status quo. Dover lost one of its dates so that Nashville Superspeedway could host its first Cup Series race. The Tennessee track has remained on the schedule ever since while Dover has continued to only host one race annually.
The new tire compound is not the only wrinkle for this season's trip to Dover Motor Speedway. The weather could also create some questions.
This weekend also marks the first time since the 1969 Cup Series season that the 1-mile track will host a July race. Dover has hosted Cup races in April, May, June, August, September, and October.