Drag Racing Assn. signs BFGoodrich
ATLANTA-The NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA) has signed BFGoodrich and DaimlerChrysler Motors Co. L.L.C's Mopar parts and accessories business as sponsors for upcoming races.
Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich unit will sponsor the Pro Street Tire class for the NOPI ``Fast and the Furious'' Racing Series. The new class requires that cars use street tires with tread, unlike the slicks favored by many professional drag racers.
Mopar has signed up to be the title sponsor of the NDRA's final race of 2003, the Mopar NOPI L.A. Race Wars in October in Banning, Calif. Mopar also signed sponsorships with three NDRA drivers.
NOPI, or Number One Parts Inc., distributes parts in the sport-compact accessories market. The NDRA is the governing body over NOPI's The Fast and the Furious Series, which starts its 10-race season in April in Texas.
BFS launches Spanish Web site
NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has redesigned its www.bridgestonetire.com Web site to include Spanish content.
The update is part of a 2001 marketing campaign in which the tire maker launched a Spanish version of its TireSafety.com Web site for Spanish-speaking customers.
The site had already been available in English and French.
Hercules adds Trelleborg line
FINDLAY, Ohio-Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. is adding Trelleborg pneumatic industrial tires to the range of products offered to its dealers.
Hercules said it will offer the range with ``purchasing incentives that will enhance (our dealers') market share and profitability.'' The Trelleborg range is used heavily on fork lifts and skid steer vehicles, according to company literature.
Hercules has 100 distributors throughout the U.S. It is the stocking distributor for Pirelli farm tires marketed in North America by Trelleborg Wheel Systems America Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Sweden's Trelleborg A.B.
Kevin Breen, director of sales and marketing for Hercules Tire Division, is overseeing the Trelleborg program.
Saleen Thunderbird to ride on Pirellis
ROME, Ga.-Saleen Inc. has selected the Pirelli P Zero as standard original equipment on the production version of its Saleen Thunderbird Bonspeed Edition concept car.
The Saleen-Bonspeed concept T-Bird, which debuted at the recent International Tire Expo/SEMA show, is fitted with Bonspeed forged alloy wheels, 18x8 inches up front and 19x10 inches at the rear. Pirelli P Zero sizes 245/40ZR18 and 285/35ZR19, front and rear, respectively, are fitted to the car.
Saleen plans to move the car from concept to prototype and then to production at its manufacturing facilities in Irvine, Calif., President Steve Saleen said.
Kumho to sponsor fishing tournament
FONTANA, Calif.- Kumho Tire USA Inc. will once again supply the official tire for the Citgo Bassmaster Tour and the Citgo Bassmasters Classic fishing tournaments, the company said.
The Bassmaster Tour comprises 10 tournaments held in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, California and Arkansas and culminates with the Classic tournament, which has a $200,000 top prize. The latter is held in conjunction with the Classic Outdoor Show, one of the outdoor industry's largest consumer shows.
The Fontana-based tire maker said 2003 will be the third year Kumho has sponsored the B.A.S.S. fishing organization-a subsidiary of ESPN.