MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 8, 2012) — Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) has signed a deal with Goodyear to run its Pro Cup late model stock cars on Goodyear Racing Eagles through the 2014 season.
The agreement marks a return for Goodyear to the series and replaces a deal CARS had with Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich brand for the past eight seasons.
The Pro Cup cars—late model stock cars such as the Ford Fusion and Chevy Impala—will run on Goodyear's D2925 bias-ply racing slick, according to Goodyear.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We tested the Goodyear short track tire and found that we had excellent grip, repeatability and durability,” said CARS Pro Cup President Jack McNelly, who estimated switching to the Goodyear racing rubber will save each team several thousands of dollars over the course of a season.
CARS Pro Cup, entering its 16th season, is the new name for what previously operated as the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series (1997-2008) and the USARacing Pro Cup Series (2009-2010).
The 14-race 2012 season starts March 24 at Anderson Motor Speedway in Williamston, S.C., and concludes Oct. 14 at a track to be announced. Races are 250 laps at the oval tracks, which vary in length up to one-half mile.
Participants in the CARS Pro Cup series are invited to an open practice at Hickory Motor Speedway from 3:30 to 8 p.m. March 3.
MTP Tire & Racing Center L.L.C. of Conover, N.C., will handle the Goodyear business throught the season, Goodyear said.