Following this past weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup second place finish, Tony Stewart was not a happy camper. When interviewed after the race, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver sounded off on his great dislike for the series tire sponsor, Goodyear. Many other competitors, from the likes of Dale Earnhart Jr. to Jeff Gordon, also made comments on the difficult tire/track combination experienced during the race, but the hot-headed number 20 was the only one to forgo any sugar coating. He hinted that the tire manufacturer's departure from other prominent race series was a move resulting from incompetency. He claimed, "They (Goodyear) don't have the technology and the people that are smart enough to build a tire. This was pathetic today." He also threw out a comment on how he no longer felt safe in anything equipped with Goodyear tires, including street use. When all was said and done, Mr. Stewart delivered the sponsor a severe verbal beating.
On Monday, Goodyear issued a reply to the heated commentary with a rather text book response. It contended that the company's exit from numerous race series was simply due to the high development costs necessary to compete, not technical inability as implied by Stewart. They also defended their choice of rubber compound by pointing out the lack of issues during numerous test events, along with the absence of complaints after the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. They even mentioned that despite driver grievances, in the eyes of Goodyear and NASCAR, the event was satisfactory. Although, as anyone that received a report card knows, satisfactory should not be the ultimate goal. Goodyear will get a second chance when the series returns to Atlanta in the fall. Hopefully Tony Stewart will have to eat his words once a more extensively tested tire compound is developed for the event.
[Source: Speed TV, Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brad H @ Mar 12th 2008 10:48AM
Tony Stewart is the biggest whiner in NASCAR!!
Bubba Gump @ Mar 12th 2008 10:48AM
Man, Goodyear didn't sound very confident. Stewart just might be right.
judd @ Mar 12th 2008 12:05PM
I have to agree with you on this Bubba. I normally wouldn't agree with Stewie, but even Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon had a beef with this tire. It may be a case of putting 150 MPH tires on a 200 MPH car. That is not very comforting. I think Stewart and Jeff G. still remember how hard they hit the wall (hard) last week so they are more vocal about it.
jsayers @ Mar 14th 2008 5:30PM
Might be right?! He's dead on. I know because I used to work in Goodyear's textile division. On 1/1/07, Goodyear sold it's textile division to a South Korean outfit. Up to this point, the new owners made yarn, motorcycles and ATM's. This Korean company is concerned about one thing and one thing only-and it ain't driver safety; Nascar or otherwise. It's bottom line $$$$$$$$. In the plant that made the tire cord for Goodyear's Nascar Eagle, I was the one that set up the machinery that wove the fabric for that tire. I had 33 years experience and the new owner didn't want to pay for it so they cut me loose. Who's setting up those machines now? Somebody from Poland? Bosnia? Certainly not someone with 33 years experience in the trade. Tony's got every right to be cranked at Goodyear. Let some Goodyear exec climb aboard a Nascar ride and slap the wall at 180 MPH because his tire was inferior quality. Then we'll see if he's a little more selective about who's making his tire cord. Maybe it's time for a tire change in Nascar. I hope Tony the Tiger reads this. I'd love to e-mail the man himself.
John P. @ Mar 12th 2008 11:01AM
Goodyear's been at this a LONG time, they might've made a mistake with the compound (I doubt it).
Tony Stewart is getting some free press, so his whining is being effective. All the drivers had the same tires, so just shut up and drive Bubba!
dan spalinger @ Mar 12th 2008 11:02AM
#1--Just the week before, everyone was complaining about all the tire blowouts they were having at the Vegas track, so NASCAR and Goodyear come back with a harder compound, there are ZERO blowouts and now everyone complains the tire doesn't handle...pick your poison...
#2--The conflict Stewart has with Goodyear dates back many years to his dirt track days where he felt slighted at somepoint by Goodyear when they did not provide him the support he felt he deserved...
All that being said...I like Goodyear's and they have been very supportive of the racers I am involved with...and I like Stewart as well, he doesn't shy away from an issue and nearly always tells you how he feels rather than trying to be politically correct...
Gino @ Mar 12th 2008 11:13AM
He hinted that the tire manufacturer's departure from other prominent race series was a move resulting from incompetency. He claimed, "They (Goodyear) don't have the technology and the people that are smart enough to build a tire. This was pathetic today." He also threw out a comment on how he no longer felt safe in anything equipped with Goodyear tires, including street use.
I guess it takes a member of MENSA to drive in circles?!
scappy @ Mar 12th 2008 11:09AM
I know they aren't racing tires, but my Wrangler RT/S are horrible. Anyone ever try Avon tyres on a compact or midsize pick-up?
Freestyle4x4f150 @ Mar 12th 2008 11:16AM
Your right, Tony Stewart is the biggest crybaby i have ever seen in Nascar, Ever!
CEman @ Mar 12th 2008 1:43PM
I thought that was Dale, it's everyone's fault my mine JR.
Smoke has never miced words. EVER. Why should he start now.
Goodyear is the sole supplier. That means they can supply crap, which they quite often do, and no one can do a damned thing about it.
_Jon @ Mar 12th 2008 11:18AM
"Hopefully Tony Stewart will have to eat his words once a more extensively tested tire compound is developed for the event."
-- Or; "Hopefully, NASCAR will choose a partner with a quality product." (regardless of the swipe the author makes at Stewart)
... I'm not a Stewart fan, nor a NASCAR fan, nor a Goodyear fan. I know this is a blog, but comments like that don't endear me to reading the posts.
J @ Mar 12th 2008 12:29PM
i think by hopefully he means hopefully nascar fixes the problem and everyone has a good race.
CEMan @ Mar 12th 2008 1:44PM
My thoughts exactly
L.Wood @ Mar 12th 2008 11:20AM
Nascar does have a bit of a mess on their hands. The COT car is crap from almost any perspective except safety. The drivers hate the car, so how much fun are they having? I would rather watch Grand-Am. The cars are ugly, but they are fun to drive, and the drivers like driving them.
John P. @ Mar 12th 2008 11:37AM
Yep, Grand-Am is much more appealing to me also. They are based on cars I can buy. Nascar is billboard with wheels racing.
I used to be a nascar fan, mostly because it was nice having a beer with my dad on a sunday afternoon and kicking back in the lazy-boy, but it's lost something.
gary @ Mar 12th 2008 11:41AM
Stewart's a talented driver who behaves very much like the outspoken Indy drivers of the past like AJ Foyt, P Jones.
Dustin @ Mar 12th 2008 12:00PM
1) Goodyear dropped the ball. The tire was too hard for its own good. No grip, everyone said so. They went too cautious with that tire.
2) The race was boring! (For those of us that like NASCAR) Which is bad for NASCAR and for Goodyear.
3) Why would Tony eat his words if Goodyear brought a better tire next time? That just means he was RIGHT!
4) There isn't nothing wrong with the COT. Its not the cars we can drive off the lots on monday, but would they ever really be? When was the last time you could or would feel really comfortable taking out a mom and pop sedan and go 200+ MPH into a corner. Not me. Not even close.
5) This was the first set back with the car, and it wasn't entirely the cars fault. It was the tire brought. Goodyear will get it right, i have faith in that.
UPDOG @ Mar 12th 2008 12:12PM
I caught the end of the Nascar show on Speed the other night...they played audio clips from a whole bunch of drivers during the race. I would agree that the tire/COT combo was very scary to drive this past weekend.
Corey W @ Mar 12th 2008 12:32PM
Why can't you have competing tire companies when it comes to NASCAR. It should be the same way for all the parts, as long as they follow whatever guide lines for production set by NASCAR, what's the big deal. Why not just race production vehicles with whatever set rules on modifications........ oh wait, nevermind!!
CEMan @ Mar 12th 2008 1:47PM
The last time they di dthat, Hoosier, Goodyear cryed and cryed until NASCAR drove them out. It is not about sport for NASCAR, it is about MONEY.
Nuff Said