Xfinity drivers, Goodyear gain data at Iowa Speedway

Whether they’ve won, finished in the top five or not at Iowa Speedway, drivers continue to mark down the driving surface of the 7/8-mile track as their favorite part of competing at the Newton racetrack.

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer came off the Iowa Speedway track on Wednesday following a two-day Goodyear Tire test. Both drivers pointed to the racing surface.

“The racing surface is old and wore out and it gives you a lot of options to move around to run at the top and the bottom,” Reddick said. “I’m so glad we came here for this test because we’re off the pace with the contenders we have to compete with here. It gives us something to chase after at a track that’s been a lot of fun for me but I’ve not had a lot of luck at.”

Reddick is the reigning Xfinity Series champion and leads the 2019 series in points after eight races. In four starts at Iowa Speedway, Reddick has one top-five finish.

Custer has two top-10 finishes in four races at Iowa and is currently third in the 2019 Xfinity Series driver points. He claimed a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winner in 2013 at Iowa Speedway.

“Just like Tyler said, the surface — everybody loves it. It is so bumpy and wore out which makes for good racing and you can find grip on the whole track. It’s fun to race on and you can go 2-3 wide racing here. It is one of the best tracks we go to,” Custer said.

Reddick and Custer were among five drivers putting in their first on-track activity of the new year at the Fastest Short Track on the Planet. They were helping Goodyear gather data on what compound of air to bring for both of Iowa Speedway’s NASCAR weekends — June 15-16 and July 26-27.

“Goodyear has a couple of ideas of the potential tire combos for Iowa Speedway,” said Reddick, who drives the No. 2 Richard Childress Chevrolet Camaro SS, following the testing. “We had a long day (Tuesday) and got the final three hours on the track today.”

Reddick won the 2018 Xfinity championship driving for JR Motorsports but has moved to the RCR team for 2019. He said the season has gone well so far except at short-tracks such as Richmond a week ago and during the testing at Iowa.

“We didn’t have the speed where we had everywhere else but our guys are hungry to find out what exactly we’re missing. Hopefully, we’ll bridge the gap and be right back where I need to be soon,” Reddick said. “We have some work to do compared to Cole (Custer) and Christopher (Bell).”

Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing), John Hunter Nemechek (GMS Racing) and Justin Haley (Kaulig Racing) also took part in the testing. Reddick, Nemechek and Haley drive a Chevrolet Camaro while Custer has a Ford Mustang and Bell, who is sitting second in points, drives a Toyota Supra.

Custer won the Richmond Xfinity race, which was his second win of the season. He said winning at a short track gives his team a lot of confidence for the rest of year.

“I always struggle a little on short tracks so to come here and have a test on one is valuable for us. We’re right in the ballpark but know we have a few more adjustments,” Custer said. “We have great team and Mike Shiplett, my new crew chief, has done a great job.”

Custer said his 2013 win at Iowa Speedway was huge in propelling his thinking he could compete at this level. He said driving for Stewart-Haas Racing has been a great experience to see how the team has grown since its start in December 2016.

Next up for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is the Dash 4 Cash race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday (FS1, noon). As a result of being the highest eligible finishers in the Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway, Custer, Austin Cindric, Justin Allgaier and Reddick, will make the trek to Talladega with a shot at the Dash 4 Cash bounty, which awards a $100,000 bonus to the highest finishing NASCAR Xfinity Series regular in select races.

NASCAR Xfinity Series racing returns to Iowa Speedway for Wide Opening Weekend on June 15-16 then again for the U.S. Cellular 250 weekend July 26-27.