From Lee Elder
Akron, OH — Four speedways in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio have reached a collective decision that the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will become the official tire supplier to their 410 Sprint Car divisions for the 2010-12 race seasons. Goodyear tires will be run exclusively on the left rear and right rear wheel positions during all events.
Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.; Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pa.; Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio; and Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., are working together to ensure the continued health of 410 Sprint Car racing in their region, which is rich in Sprint Car history and has seen car counts and competition on the rise in recent years.
Once again, Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park will feature 410 Sprint Cars as part of their weekly racing programs on Friday and Saturday nights respectively. Sharon Speedway, which ran Sprint cars every other week during the 2009 season, will see the return of Sprint Cars on their weekly Saturday night card. And Tri-City Speedway, which ran a handful of Sprint Car events during the 2009 season, will expand that schedule to include 410 Sprint Cars bi-weekly on Sunday nights to cap off the weekend.
Officials continue to work with teams and Goodyear on the specifics of the tires that will be used. Multiple compounds will be coupled with stiffer sidewall construction in order to achieve objectives of reducing traction and increasing maneuverability and balance. The end result will create even more exciting and competitive racing for drivers and fans of the most powerful cars on dirt.
In addition, Goodyear will implement a tire certificate program that will provide an opportunity for local competitors to earn free tires as well as rewarding the top three finishers in each track’s weekly points championship battle. Goodyear will also be working with all four tracks to raise the profile of the Sprint Car divisions at each facility.
This agreement among the four speedways is only the first signal in a new era of teamwork. Currently, all four track operators are working on a program designed to shine a spotlight on the talent of area Sprint Car drivers, increase those driver’s earning potential and give their loyal fans something to talk about.
Goodyear has previously announced it will be the Official Tire of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series and Knoxville Raceway — home of the Knoxville Nationals.
More information about Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information aout the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is available at www.worldofoutlaws.com.