Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company teams up with KC Raceway
Chillicothe, OH (11-13-09)- When the green flag drops for 2010 season at KC Raceway it will be teaming up with Goodyear. Today KC Raceway announced an agreement that they will be with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber company to be the official tire supplier for the track. As the season unfolds for the 2010, sprint car drivers will be required to run a Goodyear Tires on both the left and right rear wheel positions.
"Goodyear recognizes Sprint Car racing as one of the elite forms of motorsports," said Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear�s Marketing Manager of Global Race Tires. "We have a history in sprint car racing and we look forward to building on that tradition with KC Raceway in 2010."
"I think it will be a new experience with Goodyear getting back in the dirt track world, I am excited and looking forward to working with Goodyear as they have rich history in the dirt track industry." Stated KC Raceway promoter and owner Jeff Schrader. "Being with Goodyear ensures us that our purses will remain stable and point's funds will stay competitive."
KC Raceway is scheduled to have several dates for sprint cars on its schedule in 2010. After taking ownership at KC Raceway, Schrader is very pleased on how well his first year went. Schrader states, "Our first year went really well, building up our crowd counts, and providing the best racing surface for fans and our drivers." Schrader has plans to continue making improvements to KC Raceway to ensure that it is one of the best dirt tracks in the country.
As the 2010 season begins, you can be sure it will be a competitive one on the wings of Goodyear. Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information on Goodyear, please www.racegoodyear.com.
For all of the latest news and action about KC Raceway be sure to visit the website at www.kc-raceway.com.
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O'Reilly Midwest All Stars up the stakes in 2009
Camargo, IL (11-11-09) By Kelly Brown 2009 was another break out season for the O'Reilly Midwest All Stars. In its third season of racing action the series the competition was fiercer that ever. The exhilarating schedule featured fifteen show stopping races with ten different drivers celebrating at the end of the night in Victory Lane. At the beginning of the season the point standings were up for grabs and the top spot changed several times, but towards the end of the season a familiar face emerged as Jerrod Hull celebrated his third title.
Like previous years, Hull did not begin the season on a strong note, but as time went on he got stronger and stronger with each race.
"Three championships in a row are hard to believe," Hull said with a smile. "It just seems like yesterday we started the series and here we are three years down the road and everything is still going good."
This year Hull began the season with a couple of issues, but the team held strong fighting through adversity.
"We had some issues with some torsion bars and we struggled for more than a month," Hull stated. "We replaced them and from there on we have been really good."
Once Hull hit his stride in August at Tennessee National winning his first race of the season, he went on a rampage scoring three other first place finishes. Also included in his season was a runner-up finish at the North/South Showdown a co-sanctioned event with the IRA Spring Car Series. Of the drivers competing full time in both series Hull came in second at a track he had not raced on before that night.
"Winning two nights in a row in Tennessee was what started our roll this season," Hull explained. "Two nights, back-to-back wins is always great for momentum. Ever since then we have had a really good year."
AJ Bruns who ran second in the point standings also had a slow start to the 2009 season, but with six top-ten finishes Bruns was able to hold on to the runner-up spot.
"2009 started a little bumpy for us, but now we are doing good," said Bruns with a sly smile. "At the beginning of the season we came out of the garage and had a few wrecks, but now it has been a long time since, knock on wood. We had motor problems early in the year, but we ironed that out. We have been running really good. It is too bad we are at the end of the season and I feel like I am at the strongest point I have been at all year."
Alex Shanks finished third in the point standings. He began his season with a seventh place run at Lawrenceburg and was consistent throughout the remaining races. His season best finish came at Tennessee National Speedway when he finished second. In the end Shanks would finish his season with six top-ten finishes.
Finishing fourth in the point standings was sophomore year driver and 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year Miranda Throckmorton.
Throckmorton had three top-ten finishes with her top finish being a sixth place finish at Bloomington Speedway.
"The second year I definitely learned a lot more than I did last year, when we ran the wing for the first time," stated Throckmorton. �I had some good finishes and I wish we could come up with the budget to run the full All Star Circuit of Champions Series. I think I would learn so much more traveling around and seeing more tracks. It has been an enjoyable year for us."
Finishing out the top-five in the points standings was Kody Kinser who scored four top five finishes in 2009 with his top finish being a second place at Thunderhill Raceway. Kinser is another driver whose season began slow and finished with a flourish.
"We definitely got better at the end," said Kinser. "We started out awful. Actually that is an understatement, but we really got good here at the end even though we do not have much to show for it. We have been real fast all season, but I wish we would have had something to show for it."
With ten different winners in fifteen races, the only two drivers to win multiple races were Jerrod Hull and Dale Blaney. It has been a very competitive season and the Midwest All Stars are looking forward to continuing the non-stop action in 2009.
For the most up to date on the Midwest All Star Series visit www.midwestallstarseries.com.
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VENDORS RESPONDING TO CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR ON NOVEMBER 27-28-29 AT NATIONAL SPRINT CAR MUSEUM
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (November 10, 2009) - With a little over two weeks remaining before the National Sprint Car Museum in Knoxville hosts its inaugural Christmas Craft Fair on Friday-Saturday-Sunday, November 27-28-29, vendor booth space applications are being received on a daily basis. To date, many vendors from across central Iowa have signed up to showcase their handmade crafts to the public and demonstrate some of their crafting techniques. The show will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this Thanksgiving weekend.
Amongst some of the current exhibitors are Lois Dailey of Knoxville (walking sticks and painted feathers), Robbie Forbes of Melcher-Dallas (wreaths and garland), Judy Sharp of Knoxville (cookies and warming bags), Kim Shirley of Pleasantville (tooth brush rug trivet kits), Pat McDonald of Pleasantville (counted cross-stitch needlework), Brad & Cassie Beverly of Waukee (crafts) and Sarah McCammon of Des Moines (jewelry). In addition, Lois Ritter and the Knoxville West Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) have agreed to sell baked goods over the three days.
According to museum executive director Bob Baker, “We can’t thank the vendors enough for their support of our first-ever Christmas Craft Fair. With the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum being open year-round, Thanksgiving weekend should be an excellent weekend for craft-shoppers to visit our museum, and possibly even find some Christmas gifts in our museum store while they attend the Christmas Craft Fair. The exhibitors are so excited about sharing their crafts with others, especially Kim Shirley with her old-fashioned toothbrush rugs, who will also be offering free lessons on the Scandinavian art of Nalbinding throughout the Christmas Craft Fair".
Those wishing more information on the Christmas Craft Fair are encouraged to call show coordinator David Herrmann directly at 641-891-4680 or the museum toll-free at 1-800-874-4488. All activities during the Christmas Craft Fair will take place on the
newly remodeled second-floor of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa and admission to the Christmas Craft Fair is free!
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Goodyear Official Tire of 410 Sprint Cars at Western Pennsylvania Tracks
AKRON, Ohio (Nov. 4, 2009) — 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.
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O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions join forces with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Camargo, IL (10-21-09) By Kelly Brown
When the All Star Circuit of Champions embark on their 2010 race season, it will be on the wings of Goodyear. Today the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions announced it has entered into a multiyear agreement with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to be the Official Tire supplier.
When the 2010 season takes the Green Flag in Florida for the Winter Nationals in February, O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions competitors will be required to race with Goodyear tires on the left rear and right rear wheel positions.
"Goodyear recognizes Sprint Car racing as one of the elite forms of motorsports," said Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear's Marketing Manager of Global Race Tires. "We have a strong history in sprint car racing and we look forward to building on that tradition in 2010."
Goodyear and O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions officials are currently working with teams and tracks to identify the compounds and construction that best suit Sprint Car racing. Multiple compounds will be coupled with stiffer construction in order to achieve objectives of reducing traction, increasing maneuverability and creating even more exciting racing for Sprint Car fans.
"We are excited to have Goodyear as the official tire of the All Star Circuit of Champions," stated All Star Circuit of Champions President Guy Webb. "It is an advantage for everyone involved. They are committed to making a significant investment in Sprint Car racing through providing teams with world class tires that will produce the best racing possible. Goodyear is also providing major promotional support and will be supporting the All Star Circuit of Champions through various marketing initiatives."
Goodyear's first foray in racing was in 1901 and it is a tradition that continues to today. Their first victory was in 1901 when Henry Ford put Goodyear's on his car sponsored by the Detroit Driving Club and next year they will be continuing their winning ways with the All Star Circuit of Champions. For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions, bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.
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