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MILWAUKEE, WI (8-26-07) -
Officials from ARCA and Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation jointly announced today
in a media conference at the Milwaukee Mile that they have executed a contract
extension that will position Hoosier as the Official Tire of the ARCA RE/MAX
Series through the 2011 season.
The agreement provides for the
continued exclusive use of Hoosier Racing Tires in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for
the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 racing seasons and features an enhanced awards
program for series competitors. Hoosier will also develop and introduce a short
track radial tire to complement its established superspeedway radial tire
program in the series.
"Hoosier's exclusive business is
building quality tires for racers, and we have great confidence in extending
the ARCA-Hoosier relationship through the 2011 season," said ARCA
President Ron Drager. "Hoosier's commitment to developing and producing
tires constructed specifically for the demanding and diverse ARCA RE/MAX
Series-from short tracks to the mile dirt tracks to superspeedways-continues to
be proven each race weekend."
The agreement extends Hoosier's status
as among the longest-standing participating manufacturer-sponsor relationships
in the 55-year history of the sanctioning body. Hoosier has participated as a
supplier for ARCA sanctioned racing events since 1985 and first became the
Official Tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 1995. Hoosier co-founder Bob Newton
began his association with the ARCA nameplate in 1953 when he competed as a
racer in ARCA-sanctioned short track racing at Flat Rock Speedway.
"Our relationship with ARCA has
been extremely beneficial to our overall radial tire development program and we
are excited to extend our partnership with the ARCA RE/MAX Series," said
Dennis Sherman, Vice President of Marketing for Hoosier. "We are very
pleased to be a part of the evolution of this growing series. Our
philosophy and ARCA's has always been the same. It is our mutual goal to
grow the sport because it is in both our interest to do so."
Hoosier Tire engineers have begun
development of the ARCA short track radial, utilizing data and performance
records of Hoosier radials which have been raced and tested on different venues
in various series. The newly developed ARCA RE/MAX Series short track radial
tire will be used on all tracks one mile in length or shorter with the
exception of dirt tracks, which will continue to utilize bias ply tires. Plans
call for testing of the new short track radial this fall, with its debut
intended for the first short track race of the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
"We believe that instituting
radial tire technology for short track events will provide for a number of
potential advantages," said ARCA Vice President of Competition Joe Wells.
"Among the benefits are uniformity of race car construction and
components, consistency in sizing from unit to unit of the tires themselves,
better durability and as such, less overall tire consumption resulting in
better cost control for the teams."
In addition to the existing rule
limiting the number of tires teams can use during race events on short tracks,
a similar maximum tire consumption rule will be instituted at ARCA RE/MAX
Series superspeedway events as a cost containment measure.
The Hoosier extension has received
considerable support from the ARCA RE/MAX Series competitor base.
"It's great to see Hoosier coming
back and supporting the ARCA RE/MAX Series through 2011," said eight-time
and defending series champion Frank Kimmel. "The ARCA RE/MAX Series has
enjoyed a long relationship with Hoosier and for the company to commit to a
four year extension tells you the strength of the series. It's exciting to
think that we will be running short track radial in 2008. I think it will help
the series grow even more."
Kimmel's sentiments were echoed by
ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner Eddie Sharp, who fields two full time teams in the
series including the No. 2 Dodge driven by championship point contender/rookie
competitor Michael McDowell and the No. 22 development team with Michael
Waltrip Racing drivers Josh Wise and Ken Butler III sharing driving duties.
"I support the ARCA RE/MAX Series
and the direction that the sanctioning body is going with the introduction of a
radial short track tire," said Sharp. "As a team owner, this is
significant because of the development work that I do with young drivers here
in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. As we train these up-and-coming drivers for full
time racing careers the radial tire helps them advance their career because
they need experience on this type of tire to get where they want to be. The
addition of a radial tire on short tracks is a definite enhancement to the
series."
For more information on Hoosier Racing
Tire Corp., visit www.hoosiertire.com.
For more information on the ARCA RE/MAX
Series, visit www.arcaracing.com.
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