Goodyear representative removes company from
tire testing program and tire contract bidding process

By Kirk Holmes
Reprinted With Permission From All The Dirt! Racing News

ALTOONA, WI (May 7) - A representative from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has informed WISSOTA President Terry Voeltz that the company will bow out of this weekend’s tire testing and will not submit a bid for the future WISSOTA tire contract.

Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear’s sales and marketing manager for dirt Late Models, called Voeltz last week and informed him of the company’s decision.

“He called me and said they are going to pull out of the test and the bid process with WISSOTA,” Voeltz said Monday. “He said, ‘Terry, you have always been honest and up front with me, so I want to do the same for you. We are having production problems and we are hoping to take care of the current customers.”

Regarding WISSOTA, Voeltz said, “We are just going to go on. I wanted to go through it with all three and make it clear cut with everyone involved. With them not there, it takes away part of the overall picture. But things just happen beyond your control sometimes.”

Billy Engelstad, WISSOTA’s head tech inspector, said representatives from American Racer and Hoosier Tire will be present during testing at three Wisconsin tracks this weekend, all beginning at 10 a.m.: Red Cedar Speedway on Saturday, Rice Lake Speedway on Sunday and Eagle Valley Speedway on Monday.

Once all the testing has been completed, the goal is to award the new contract by July 15.

“I’m kind of disappointed,” Engelstad said. “I thought we were going to get the chance to test all three manufacturers.”

The news from Fantozzi came about the same time a report appeared on the FASTRAK Racing Series website, which stated the sanctioning body “has regretfully been forced to postpone several Late Model Touring events due to the inability of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company to produce enough tires.”

Voeltz said he had spoken to other people within the tire industry who said they were not surprised by the news.

“I really appreciate the fact Justin called me ahead of time and was straight forward with me,” Voeltz said. “You have to respect their decision to try to take care of their current customers.”

Voice mails and emails left for Fantozzi and Goodyear distributor Larry Robinson were not returned prior to ATD’s press deadline on Monday.