Pocono Raceway is familiar territory for Cup Series teams considering that it has been on the schedule since 1974. However, the upcoming weekend will feature a twist in the form of a brand-new tire combination.
According to Goodyear, the official tire supplier of NASCAR, Cup Series teams will head to the Tricky Triangle with new tire codes on the left and right sides of the cars. The left-side tires will be the same code as those previously used at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Nashville Superspeedway this season.
NASCAR Cup Series teams used the right-side tire code at a different 2.5-mile track. They took this tire code to Indianapolis Motor Speedway last season as the Brickyard 400 returned to the schedule for the first time since 2020.
The purpose of bringing this new setup is to deliver more grip for the drivers, as well as more tire fall-off over the course of a green flag run this weekend.
"Pocono is perhaps the most unique track we have on the NASCAR circuit," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of global race tires.
"With three distinct corners and straightaways, teams face a choice of setting up their cars where they feel they can make the most time. We have a new tire set-up for the Cup cars this year, one with more grip and more fall-off, which should make for a great race for the fans."
Cup teams will have an opportunity to test these tires on Saturday. They will take part in a practice session at 12:35 p.m. ET (Prime Video). This is not an extended weekend, so teams will split into two groups for 25-minute sessions.
While the Cup Series teams will use new tire codes this weekend, the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams will use what has worked. They will run the same left-side tire codes that they have used at Pocono Raceway since the 2022 season. The right-side tire code made its debut last season, and it will return.
Goodyear noted that this same tire setup will return for the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next month.