Goodyear Customizes NASCAR® And NHRA® Tires To Honor America's Armed Forces

AKRON, Ohio, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As a further reflection of its decades of military support, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three major national series and NHRA Racing's Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, is honoring and supporting U.S. Armed Forces with the launch of the "Goodyear Gives Back" campaign, a fund-raising effort designed to generate support for the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who make sacrifices to protect Americans' freedom.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120705/NY35692-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120705/NY35692-b )

Goodyear is transforming the appearance of all related racing tires over the July 4th holiday race weekend, replacing the traditional "Goodyear Eagle" sidewalls with a symbolic yellow ribbon design reading "Support Our Troops." A number of initiatives are part of this year's program, including at-track activities, the launch of www.Goodyear.com/givesback, and multiple opportunities for racing fans to participate – all to benefit the Support Our Troops organization.

"Soldiers and their families make tremendous sacrifices for us every day. We hope that by changing the look of our race tires to raise awareness, along with Goodyear's donation and fund-raising efforts, we can help make a difference in the lives of the troops and their families," said Garth Ely, Goodyear director of brand marketing.  "From outfitting Humvees and planes, to patrolling the coast with the Goodyear blimp after Pearl Harbor, Goodyear has been supporting the military for more than 100 years."

To kick off this year's program, Goodyear is leading the way with its own donation to Support Our Troops. During the "Goodyear Gives Back" event from July 1 through August 31, Goodyear will donate $1 per select Goodyear tire sold up to $250,000* to the Support Our Troops organization. Over the past two years, contributions generated through the Goodyear effort have amounted to nearly $400,000 in cash and product, and have benefited U.S. service men and women directly and through the highly effective programs operated by Support Our Troops. This nonprofit nationwide organization works to bolster the morale and well-being of America's troops and their families by delivering over $20 million per year in care packs and requested items to the front lines, providing positive support at home, kids' camp assistance and more.

"Goodyear has played an integral role in efforts to raise awareness and funds to help impact the lives of U.S. Armed Forces and their families," said Martin C. Boire, executive director of Support Our Troops.  "We appreciate all that Goodyear, NASCAR and NHRA are doing by providing so many ways for the fans to show their support for our service men and women through this year's campaign."

To extend the impact of this year's program, Goodyear, NASCAR and a group of volunteers teamed up at Daytona International Speedway to fill care packages for the troops with personalized "thank you" cards and other essential items donated by Goodyear and NASCAR sponsors and partners. Goodyear and NASCAR have arranged an additional care package event scheduled at Michigan International Speedway in August. Through its official NASCAR partnership, UPS Trackside Services will provide shipping and manage the delivery of the care packages from Daytona to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

NASCAR drivers are helping to spread the word of this program and encouraging fans to join the effort. Goodyear will air three custom TV commercials during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race broadcast on July 7 on TNT, with Richard Childress Racing drivers Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Paul Menard, Hendrick Motorsports drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne, and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Newman participating.

Consumers and race fans can personally get involved in this year's "Goodyear Gives Back" campaign by visiting www.Goodyear.com/givesback and bidding on authentic, race-used Goodyear NASCAR and NHRA tires autographed by drivers who used them in these races, as well as other unique items including authentic motorsports experiences and memorabilia that are up for auction with all proceeds going directly to Support Our Troops.

Consumers can also make direct donations to Support Our Troops through the Goodyear website, purchase Goodyear Gives Back merchandise through the auction link (while supplies last), and support local Goodyear dealers across the country who are backing the effort to acknowledge the sacrifice and help make a difference in the lives of military members and their families.

"Along with the many options Goodyear is offering, we encourage consumers to help support the cause by spreading the word to their friends, family and any military members they know and encouraging them to visit www.Goodyear.com/givesback to get involved," added Kris Kienzl, Goodyear marketing manager. 

In 2011, Goodyear customers, including its retail stores, independent dealers and Discount Tire, provided full mounting services free of charge to make sure donated tires were properly mounted to the vehicles of the troops and their families. This year, retailers are planning local events and promotions throughout the country.

Goodyear, the largest producer of military tires in the U.S., has a longstanding history with the U.S. Armed Forces, with more than 100 years of commitment to building innovative and reliable tires and equipment to support and protect our troops. Goodyear's commitment extends beyond products and charitable donations; priding itself on hosting events at U.S. military bases throughout the year, bringing service men and women and their families a chance to interact with drivers and take rides on the Goodyear Blimp.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports.  NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport – with more of the top 20 highest attended sporting events in the U.S. than any other sport, and is the No. 2-rated regular-season sport on television.  NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages.  NASCAR fans are the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.

NASCAR consists of three major national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series.  Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars.  NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico.  Based in Daytona Beach (FL), NASCAR has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Charlotte (NC), Concord (NC), Conover (NC), Bentonville (AR), Mexico City, and Toronto.

About NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About Support Our Troops
SupportOurTroops.Org provides simple constructive ways for citizens and community minded businesses to show their patriotism and appreciation for those who sacrifice so much to protect our country, our homes, our families, and our American way of life.

Support Our Troops is a registered trademark licensed through SupportOurTroops.org  The official SupportOurTroops.Org website is a nationwide platform for individuals, organizations, businesses and non-profits to bolster America's troops and their families in a multitude of ways. It is a moral covenant with those who serve to protect us and our families. SupportOurTroops.Org is a resource that was not available to previous generations of troops, which now stands as a permanent living testament to the affection, gratitude and loyalty good Americans hold for those who do so much for all of us every day.

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs approximately 73,000 people and manufactures its products in 54 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear or its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

*For every select Goodyear tire sold at participating U.S. Retailers between July 1 and August 31, 2012 and reported through Point of Sale data to Goodyear, Goodyear will donate $1, up to a maximum of $250,000 to Support Our Troops^®.  Support Our Troops^® is a 501(c)(3) organization located at P.O. Box 70, Daytona Beach, FL 32115, phone (386) 767-8882, that provides assistance to active duty troops and their families.  Support Our Troops^® is a registered trademark licensed through SupportOurTroops.org.  See Participating Retailer for complete details.

SOURCE Goodyear