Goodyear not stranger to NASCAR

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Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 12:01 p.m.

Goodyear, in the first year of a three-year deal to be the exclusive tire supplier for NASCAR's Winston Cup series, has been around stock cars since 1954.

That was the year that the Akron-based tire company was enticed to take part in NASCAR's new convertible-class series.

Goodyear's tire engineers brought their Police Special tire, which was built with stronger construction and softer compound for better handling. At that time, the tire was available only to law enforcement agencies.

After several years of testing, Goodyear began to build a racing tire in 1957, the Stock Car Special. When Jim Read won the 1959 Southern 500 at Darlington, it was Goodyear's first major racing victory since 1921.