Full Throttle

A few days ago there was a story making the rounds, including here, that purported NASCAR was in talks with Hoosier formulating a contingency plans in case Goodyear couldn’t complete it obligations during the ongoing workers strike.

Apparently that isnh’t the case according to both Goodyear and NASCAR.

As noted in my original story Hoosier provides NASCAR’s regional series and GrandAm with tires and Jim Hunter claims, “We talk to someone from Hoosier probably every week.”

He has also said Goodyear is “capable of producing tires for Cup,” and has been told by Goodyear officials that they will have enough tires for 2007.

I’ll take them at their word, I have no reason not to. But I do notice in a statement designed to calm the waters over tire supplies both Hunter and Goodyear only speak to NEXTEL Cup tires. No mention is made on a possible supply issue for both Busch and the Truck Series.

Goodyear supplys 2,500 and 3,000 tires for each Cup event and with “white collar” workers, and allegedlly “imported” workers, manning the 15 plants on strike and a more pressing requirement to produce street tires, then factor in the hot button issue of reduced health care benefits to employees I still see a potential problem on the 2007 horizon.

Starting on Nov. 18, the day this story first broke, the United Steel Workers kicked off an “international effort to educate the public” about the ongoing labor dispute that will “include demonstrations at area tire stores.”

As one who spent 10 years dealing with the UAW during my time at FoMoCo my experience tells me both sides have hardened their positions near the point of no return. This could be a very long fight.

You can assume the same 3 month lead time for producing race tires for the Cuppers applies to both Busch and the Truck Series, in that case we may see Hoosier shod cars starting with the California Busch and NCTS dates, or sooner.

Only time and the lack of picket signs will tell.

GoodYear, NASCAR, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle