Story by: Langley Austin ~ [email protected]

Copper Hill, VA(November 28, 2012) — A couple of months ago, rumors began to leak that Goodyear wasn’t going to be involved in short track racing anymore.  Since that rumor comes up every year, no one paid it much attention, but turn the clock and we’re all getting a dose of reality.

Life without Goodyear tires for short track racing appears to be that reality.  While Goodyear has yet to publish an official statement about abandoning short track racing, the writing appears to be on the wall.

The UARA-STARS Series announcement just five days ago had all the signs of the rumors being true, despite little to no one having knowledge about Goodyear’s departure at the time.  The UARA signed up to be a part of the Hoosier Tire program and will switch to the same Hoosier F-45 tires that most of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car tracks already compete on.  Hickory Motor Speedway made a similar announcement on the same day.

The UARA, in their press release stated that the move was for the better of the series.

“In an effort to move the UARA forward we felt this change would be in the right direction for the series,” said UARA President Kerry Bodenhamer.

Hickory Motor Speedway General Manager Kevin Piercy also stated that the track was looking at the tire change as a way to improve the track.

“At this point we feel that a change in our tire program will allow Hickory Motor Speedway the opportunity to expand our foundation and bring it to the next level,” said Piercy.

However in speaking with other tracks that participated in the short track tire program with Goodyear, the UARA and Hickory Motor Speedway was left with no other choice, but to make a tire change.  The move isn’t to better the series or the track; it’s the only option they had according to other tracks facing the same situation.

“They told me to find me another tire,” Harold Crook, General Manager of Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, VA, said in a recent phone interview.  “We were kind of surprised, we’ve been with them since 2001 or before.”

Crook says that he wasn’t given any warning, but that the deal with Goodyear was over.  He was asked, like all the other tracks and series, to notify Goodyear of the number of 2902 tires that they had left and they would be picked up by Goodyear.

Crook stated that he has a little over 40 tires left and that Goodyear was picking them up.  His neighbor track, Kingsport Speedway also runs the 2902 tires and was told the same thing.

“They said look for another tire supplier,” stated Kingsport Speedway General Manager, Robert Pressley via phone.  “It kind of caught me blindside.  My whole era in racing has been nothing but Goodyear.  You hear those rumors every year and you just shrug them off.”

Pressley and Crook both anticipate switching to Hoosier F45’s, but have both also had conversations with representatives from American Racer.  Neither of them has made a decision, but neither wants to be on an island of their own and understand the benefit of having all tracks on the same tire.

“I never thought it would happen,” continued Pressley.  “It will be good for Late Model Stock Car racing to have all the tracks on the same tire for those who travel, but I hope this isn’t a nail in the coffin for tire prices going out of sight.”

If both Crook and Pressley switch to Hoosier’s, nearly every track in the Southeast region will be competing on the same tire, killing competition among tire manufactures in this region.  Short term, it’s certainly a good move to have the same tire for all Late Model Stock Cars to compete on.  However, long term, Hoosier will have the region and its tracks and racers by the proverbial balls and can dictate their price as they choose.

Goodyear will, in the meantime, take the 2902 tires that they get back from the tracks and series and use them in the upcoming “Battle at the Beach” short track event at Daytona International Speedway.  According to sources they already have a contract for this race and the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown and will complete their contracts for each event.

Goodyear is not expected to produce anymore 2902 tires and will focus their energy on “High Profile” racing such as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Truck Series along with other forms of racing starting in 2013.