RACE: National Runoffs: Goodyear Racing summary

GOODYEAR-EQUIPPED TEAMS COLLECT MOST WINS AT RUNOFFS

TOPEKA, Kansas (Oct. 14, 2007) -- A dozen drivers competing on Goodyear Eagle racing tires won amateur sports car championships at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka.

Goodyear's victory total was the best among tiremakers, continuing a tradition of success that is unrivaled in the tire industry. There were Goodyear-shod cars in 18 of the 25 classes at the Runoffs, giving the Akron, Ohio-based company a 66-percent success rate in the classes in which it competed.

The Goodyear wins came in Production, Grand Touring, Formula, Sport Racer and Spec Racer classes. There were Goodyear radial and bias-ply tires among the winning cars.

"This is my first time on Goodyear tires," said Bill Schepergerdes, who finished second in American Sedan. "Guess I should change, huh? That's a heck of a rain tire. Even in the dry it didn't fall off much."

The three-day Runoffs were held under mostly dry conditions. Saturday's schedule was delayed by lightening strikes and the first few races of the day were run under wet conditions.

Jay Marlowe, the G Production winner, said tire choice was a key to his success. "We went with slicks instead of the intermediates," said Marlowe. "I know on the grid a lot of guys had the intermediates on."

Including the winners, 26 drivers using Goodyear tires earned spots on the victory podium.

Goodyear's winners in the production-based classes were Tony Ave (in GT1), Pete Peterson (GT3), Chris Bovis (GT Lite), Tom Thrash (E Production), Jesse Prather (F Production), Tom Feller (H Production) and Marlowe.

In the Formula classes for open-wheel cars, Goodyear-shod cars won in Formula Continental (with Chas Shaffer), Formula Ford (John Robinson) and Formula Mazda (Jim Goughary).

The other winning drivers using Goodyear rubber were Mike Miserendino (Spec Racer Ford) and J.R. Osborne (D Sports Racer).

Goughary's victory capped a special season. He earned the coveted Chicago Region SCCA Triple Crown by winning his division championship and his race in both the Chicago Region June Sprints and the Runoffs.

"It was really big for me personally," Goughary said. "My career has been spent in the SCCA and I am really happy to be able to get this."

More information on Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information on the SCCA is available at www.scca.com.

-credit: goodyear racing