RACE: National Runoffs: Goodyear Racing summary

GOODYEAR-SHOD CARS WIN 13 CLASS VICTORIES AT SCCA RUNOFFS

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Drivers equipped with Goodyear tires won 13 national sports car championships during the 2005 SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Kohler at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The 13 victories beat all other tiremakers combined in amateur racing's sports car classic. The event drew 734 racecars and the teams that selected Goodyear as their tire supplier had the clear advantage. Drivers of Goodyear-shod cars captured 32 podium finishes and swept the podium four times.

"It was another successful Runoffs for Goodyear," said Bob Shaffer, marketing manager for sports car racing. "We won on bias-ply, we won on radial slicks and we won on our DOT tires. Our new GT1 tire was successful, which is a credit to our development team and to Lew Larimer's race team. All our new products did very well. We were happy with our pole winners as well."

Brad Stout, the Formula Vee champion, won the SCCA Triple crown. Along with the Runoffs victory, Triple Crown winners must win their regional class title and their race in the Chicago Region June Sprints.

"I am happy to win the Triple Crown," Stout said. "My Goodyear tires behaved phenomenally."

In addition to Stout, the Goodyear winners at the Runoffs included John Heinricy, who won two classes, Mark Hotchkiss, Kent Prather, Tom Feller, Lew Larimer, Duane Davis, John Saurino, Warren Montague, Chuck Hemmingson, Mark Jaremko and Marc Walker.

Goodyear drivers started on the pole 11 times.

The event will be the last time the Runoffs will be held at the Mid-Ohio track. Shaffer said, "We want to thank Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for all the help and support we've gotten from them over the years. They have helped us stay at the very highest level of SCCA competition during that time."

Heinricy, who won in Touring 1 and A Sedan, became the first driver in Runoffs history to win the same two classes in three consecutive years. He said after his A Sedan victory, "The Goodyear tires held up great for the whole race."

Goodyear's victories in the Production classes came from Mark Hotchkiss (F Production), Kent Prather (G Production) and Tom Feller (H Production).

The Grand Touring victories came from Larimer (who won his second consecutive GT1 championship), Davis (GT2), Saurino (GT3) and Montague (GT Light).

Goodyear swept the Touring titles as Heinricy (Touring 1) and Hemmingson (Touring 2) were the winning drivers.

Jaremko won in D Sports Racer and Walker won in Sport 2000.

Goodyear's record in Runoffs history is unmatched.

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