WISSOTA track operators, board members vote to
accept Hoosier spec tire proposal for 2008-2010 seasons

ST. CLOUD, MN (July 17) - After a lengthy meeting with representatives from both American Racer and Hoosier Racing Tire on Tuesday, a group of WISSOTA promoters and board members voted to award “official tire status” for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons to Hoosier Racing Tire. Drivers in the AMSOIL Dirt Track Series will continue to race on Hoosier spec tires for the next three seasons.

Both Hoosier and American Racer were asked to prepare detailed bids to WISSOTA’s promoters and board members for the meeting and both companies responded with strong offers intended to provide benefits to both the racers and race track operators of WISSOTA. Both bids were based on the use of a single compound tire in all classes starting in 2008.

WISSOTA officials expect the change to a single compound of tire to lead to a reduced tire expense for all racers in the future. After speaking to their drivers earlier this year, WISSOTA’s promoters voted by a margin of more than 2-to-1 in a 2007 tire survey to ask the manufacturers to change the organization’s tire program to a single compound in each class.

The bids were presented in person by both Hoosier and American Tire representatives. The information in each was read aloud with the WISSOTA promoters, WISSOTA board members and all tire company representatives present in the room.

Jerry Boubin, owner of Boubin Tire and Automotive of Independence, IA, is the regional distributor for American Racer brand tires and represented his firm and the brand at the meeting. His American Racer proposal began with the following statement: “First and foremost we want to recognize the current WISSOTA board members. The process that has led to this proposal has been open, honest and fair. The current WISSOTA board takes their stewardship seriously and members are well served by that board. This is refreshing.”

American Racer’s proposal was based on the use of its MD-56 Late Model tire, its KK704 tire (for use in Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Street Stocks) and a 13” KK704 for the Mod Fours.

Hoosier Racing Tire was asked to provide a proposal for its popular WRS-2 tire in a 55 compound for WISSOTA’s Late Models starting in 2008 with the understanding that the WRS tire may also be called into service as a right rear tire track option.

For the Modified, Super Stock, Midwest Modified and Street Stock divisions, WISSOTA asked Hoosier to focus its proposal on the current E-Mod H40 tire; for the Mod Fours, the current 13” H40 compound tire was specified by WISSOTA.

After the presentation of the bids, the tire company representatives were excused for a time while the promoters shared their opinions with the board members; later, representatives from each company were called back to answer questions from the WISSOTA promoters and board.
After that final round of questions, each promoter and board member provided an individual analysis of the proposals from their perspective and concluded with a vote for one of the proposals. Based on a majority vote from the promoters, the board voted to accept the proposal presented by Hoosier Racing Tire representative Paul Menting and Hoosier Tire North representative Pat Willis.

WISSOTA promoters who attended the meeting were Bob Allen of Arlington Raceway and Redwood Speedway, Paul and Machelle Engelstad of Norman County Raceway, Rick Kobs of Kopellah Speedway, Jesica Matzdorf of Grand Rapids Speedway, Billy Joe Meyer of Princeton Speedway, Jay Richardson of Red Cedar Speedway, Layne Roberts of Viking Speedway, Don Roseen of Proctor Speedway, Darin Toot of Chateau Raceway and Jerry Weigel of Eagle Valley Speedway.

Richardson and Weigel are also Modified drivers who were involved in this spring’s tire testing procedures at Red Cedar and Eagle Valley speedways.

WISSOTA board members at the meeting were: Bill Engelstad, Scott Hughes, Sue Lloyd, Gus Omundson and Terry Voeltz. Board members Dennis Terning and Randy Queensland were unable to attend the meeting.

WISSOTA officials have asked representatives from Hoosier to keep the organization informed in the future regarding new and potential cost-saving products that could be utilized at member tracks throughout the region. “We’ll be happy to go through a testing program on anything new that comes out,” said WISSOTA head tech advisor Bill Engelstad. “But right now we think we’ve got very good quality products lined up for our racers. They are proven, well accepted tires. Anything different we consider in the future would need to be a better tire or a money-saver for the racers.”