Denver: Goodyear Racing final report

GOODYEAR-EQUIPPED CARS WIN FIVE TIMES AT BANDIMERE

MORRISON, Colo. (July 14, 2008) -- Five drivers racing on Goodyear tires took home trophies from the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway and the tiremaker earned high praise for its latest offering.

Goodyear's D2550 rear drive tire for the NHRA's POWERade Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car categories won plaudits from drivers in both. The D2550 had been offered as an optional tire in the previous two POWERade events. Starting with the Bandimere race, the D2550 will be the only rear drive tire supplied to those teams.

"Kudos to Goodyear," said Funny Car star Gary Scelzi. "They've done a great job and they need to be commended on it."

The drivers winning with Goodyear included Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), Justin Jenkins (Super Stock) and Lou Ficco (Competition Eliminator).

The victories give Goodyear 62 wins in NHRA national competition this season and Anderson's win extended a remarkable streak. Goodyear-shod cars have won the last 348 Pro Stock races and 346 of the last 348 top qualification positions in the category.

Schumacher beat Antron Brown in the final round. It was the sixth victory of the season for Schumacher, who leads the championship standings. He said of the D2550, "Great, just great."

Wilkerson beat Jack Beckman in the Funny Car final and then said, "I don't know what they put in that new Goodyear tire, but God bless them." The victory was Wilkerson's fourth of 2008 and he holds a healthy lead in the standings.

Anderson's win came at the expense of Allen Johnson. Anderson, the points leader in Pro Stock, set track records for elapsed time (7.020 seconds) and speed (196.30 mph) during qualifying.

Ficco's win was his third in national competition. Drivers using Goodyear tires filled all four spots in the semi-final round.

Jenkins won his second national event and his first since 2005.

-credit: goodyear racing