Goodyear Racing Columbus notes

MATTHEWS WINS SUPER STREET CATEGORY AT NATIONAL TRAIL

HEBRON, Ohio (May 21, 2006) -- Even though he is retired, there is nothing retiring about drag racer Rudy Matthews.

Matthews, 57, won the Super Street category in NHRA's Lucas Oil Sportsman Series event that was part of the Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals at National Trail Speedway here.

"This trophy is for my granddaughter," Matthews said during his Victory Circle interview. "She keeps asking for one."

Driving a 1969 Chevy Camaro that he built for racing in 1988, Matthews bested a field of 60 cars when he beat David Van Horne in the final round. It was the third win in national competition for Matthews. Matthews is a five-time champion of the Jeg's All Star event.

Matthews uses a pair of Goodyear's D2078 rear drive tires on the back of the Camaro. The D2078 is 33 inches tall and 15 inches wide across the tread. It mounts on a 15-inch wheel and includes Goodyear's D5 compound.

Matthews said he started racing when he was 16. It doesn't look like he's slowing down any. Each of his six passes at National Trail started with a reaction time of .075 of a second or quicker and his second round start was nearly perfect, just .006 of a second.

Rudy Matthews and his wife Ruth live in Ohio City, Ohio. They've been married 35 years. Their granddaughter, soon-to-be recipient of a stunning NHRA trophy Storm Matthews, is five years old.

More information about Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information on the NHRA is available at www.NHRA.com

-goodyear-