Martinsville Cup race gets same Goodyear left-side tire again for Sunday’s Xfinity 500

NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 27, 2026

Martinsville Cup package

Goodyear is bringing its established Eagle short-track tire setup back to Martinsville Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500, and the same left-side tire introduced last October will be back in use. That left-side tire will again be matched with the same right-side tire that has been in place since fall 2024, keeping the package familiar for teams. The setup has already been used at North Wilkesboro, Richmond, New Hampshire and Phoenix in 2026, so crews have recent reference points. The race arrives as the penultimate event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and The Chase presented by Mobil 1. Goodyear’s return to the same tire combination gives the field a clear starting point for the weekend.

Goodyear tire strategy

Goodyear said the current left-side tire was introduced to create more fall-off than earlier versions, a move designed to make the tire wear matter more as a race unfolds. That choice makes the tire wear an important part of the Martinsville weekend. Goodyear NASCAR product manager Rick Heinrich said the familiar tires should let teams focus on setup and strategy for Martinsville’s tight concrete corners and long straightaways. The familiar package keeps attention on setup and strategy for the event.

Martinsville support series

The Cup race is not the only event at Martinsville this weekend to feature a track-specific tire plan. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will use a Martinsville-specific tire setup as well, and the Craftsman Truck Series will do the same. The Truck Series tire package will make its first appearance at Martinsville this weekend.