General Tire to be ARCA race tire supplier

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 16, 2015) — General Tire is goin' stock car racing.

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) has named Continental Tire the Americas' General Tire brand its exclusive race tire supplier for the next few years for its premier series, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

This series features late model stock cars competing in a 20-plus race series on paved ovals throughout the eastern U.S. The ARCA Racing Series is similar to NASCAR in the types of cars used, but is considered more of a stock car “minor league,” with many of its drivers aspiring to move up to NASCAR.

General Tire will replace Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. as the ARCA series' race tire supplier, although Hoosier will continue to produce the General Tire-branded race tires for General under a production/development agreement the two companies have had since 2009.

Hoosier has been the ARCA series' supplier since 1995.

Hoosier also makes the Continental-branded race tires used by competitors in the Tudor United Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Challenge road racing series and will continue to be the tire supplier for ARCA's other series — the ARCA/CRA Super Series, ARCA Truck Series and ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.

“General Tire's participation will be evident in many ways,” ARCA President Ron Drager said, “including a broad-based activation package with our broadcast partners, race event venues and teams, as well as contributing extensive knowledge and experience in tire manufacturing technology.”

Travis Roffler, director of marketing for General Tire, said the deal with ARCA will build on the brand's 100-year tradition.

“ARCA produces some fantastic racing and allows us to expose the General brand to a whole new audience of motorsports fans,” he said. “We're eager to expand our portfolio and showcase our technologies to such a dedicated audience.”

The parties did not disclose the length of the contract nor its value.

The agreement includes a complete television package including commercials, in-car cameras and billboards, as well as trackside activation, race entitlements and track signage programs, General Tire said. The series has a contract for race coverage through the 2017 season with FoxSports Network.

Track-side support service for the teams will remain seamless (i.e., will be handled by Hoosier Tire).

This is General Tire's first foray into stock-car racing. The brand has been competing in various off-road racing venues since 2008 and currently is involved with: Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series; Best in the Desert Racing Series; Expedition Overland; Major League Fishing; Chili Bowl; Pro-Pulling; Late-Model Dirt Series; Drag Boat Series; American Sprint Car Series; FreestyleMx.com Tour; Zero One Odyssey; and is the spec tire of Trophylite and JeepSpeed.

Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, ARCA organizes more than 100 events each year in its multiple racing series.

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards events have been averaging about 35 cars this year, although the series points summary shows more than 100 drivers have competeed at some point this season.

The cars in the ARCA Racing Series are purpose-built racing car chassis clad with bodywork of either the Chevrolet SS, Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry. All competitors use identically prepped Ilmor 396 V-8 engines, designed to deliver 700 horsepower and 500 ft. lbs. of torque.