The NASCAR Cup Series officially saw race cars take to the newly repaved North Wilkesboro Speedway on Wednesday and Thursday with two-time champion Joey Logano, Daytona 500 champion William Byron, and Ty Gibbs all participating in a Goodyear tire test at the historic North Carolina short track.

The three Cup Series drivers, one from each manufacturer, tested multiple compounds throughout the multi-day test. Goodyear used the tire compound most recently raced at Phoenix Raceway as the “control” tire for the test.

All three drivers said the new surface seems to be really good already, with Logano adding that the track still has some “character” to it.

“They did a good job. There’s still some character. It’s still a unique-shaped race track, which is all good,” said Logano. “There’s a pretty big bump down in turn one, I think where the wall was out too long and they cut it, and it’s kind of an interesting area. There’s a huge bump leaving four, which really upsets the cars. I don’t think that’s bad. I’m okay with that. That’s something that made this race track so cool in the past, was that it had a lot of character, it was bumpy, you were forced to move around on it because it was challenging. I think the fact that it’s got a couple of bumps and some areas where your drivers can make mistakes and jump out of the groove and do different things is just going to promote passing, so that’s a good thing.”

Byron, who raced at North Wilkesboro last year in a Super Late Model, said that the CARS Tour Late Model drivers can all expect one thing to be certain when they come to Wilkesboro and try the new pavement for the first time: It will be fast.

“I’m sure it will be a pretty physical race for them, just because it doesn’t fall off that much,” explained Byron. “It’s very fast. It kind of reminds me of Richmond when they paved that place way back. I feel like it will be intense and kind of a fight for the bottom. I’m excited to see how it plays out.”

Gibbs, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, did not race in any of the Late Model events at North Wilkesboro between 2022 and 2023, but he has plenty of Late Model Stock Car experience throughout his young career, including four top-five finishes in CARS Tour competition. He also was able to offer some insight for the CARS Tour competitors on what they can expect.

“I’m trying to think of something that’s similar to it,” said Gibbs. “I know they repaved Tri-County. It’s just a lot more throttle time. A lot more grip. It’s going to be pretty flat-out for what this package is for a Late Model Stock.”

The CARS Tour teams and competitors will get to find out first-hand what the new North Wilkesboro Speedway is like soon enough when they come back to North Carolina’s foothills for a Late Model Stock Car/Pro Late Model doubleheader during NASCAR’s All-Star Week on May 14 and 15.

As with every CARS Tour event, the races from North Wilkesboro will be broadcast live on FloRacing. Fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.