The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NASCAR-WCUP: Goodyear Tire Notes NASCAR Winston Cup Southern 500

2 September 1998

GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES FOR THE NASCAR 
WINSTON CUP SOUTHERN 500 
BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL DURA LUBE 200 
DARLINGTON RACEWAY - 1.366 MILE OVAL
FAST FACTS FOR SEPT. 6, 1998

NUMBER OF TIRES REQUIRED: LEFT RIGHT Winston Cup 1,239 1,290
Busch Grand National 525 525

RECOMMENDED COLD PRESSURE: L. Front -- 30 psi R. Front -- 42 psi L. Rear -- 30 psi R. Rear -- 40 psi

DESCRIPTION: GOODYEAR EAGLE SUPERSPEEDWAY RADIAL LEFT SIDE CIRCUMFERENCE: 86.2 in. RIGHT SIDE CIRCUMFERENCE: 87.4 in.

NOTES AND QUOTES: "This is the same race recommendation we used here in the March race this season," said Tony Freund, Goodyears lead engineer for stock cars. The recommendation is similar to the setups used at Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and North Carolina Motor Speedway. The main differentiating factor of this Eagle race recommendation, only used at Darlington, is the combination of left side and right side tires.

Darlington Raceway is one of the most formidable tracks that teams must contend with in the Winston Cup Series. "Its unique egg shape and high degree of banking on the narrow turns induce high wear and lap time give-up during the life of a set of tires," noted Freund. In addition, the ever-changing racing surface mandates constant tuning of the chassis setups. Often referred to as a tire eater, Darlington Raceway has been deemed the "track too tough to tame."

DID YOU KNOW?...Goodyear first tested its tires at Darlington Raceway in 1954. Five years later, Goodyears racing Blue Streak tires dominated the Darlington race, showing up on the winner and seven of the top 10 finishers. The now-famous Eagle moniker replaced the Blue Streak name in 1980.

ESTIMATED PIT STOPS FOR SUNDAY'S RACE: APPROXIMATELY EVERY 65-72 LAPS. (ESTIMATE BASED ON FUEL CONSUMPTION)