Earlier this month, many around the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour were taken by surprise when it was revealed that series management would host a tire test with American Racer on Nov. 5 at Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, Pa.
It was news that took so many by surprise considering the Whelen Modified Tour has run Hoosier Tires exclusively since the 1999 season.
Now comes news that NASCAR will be taking a further look at what American Racer has to offer.
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Makes a lot of sense to do this now. Hoosier being wholly-owned by Continental, where the focus is on radial tires for OEM and aftermarket sale, has moved Hoosier product engineering and upper level program management to the Charlotte area while developing new products for the drag radial, off road, radial road race, and 200 TW markets. Hoosier/Conti has also picked up a significant amount of European business when Goodyear killed off Avon, which was part of Cooper tire when Goodyear acquired them. Hoosier radial race tire development and production benefits Conti’s OEM and production work, Bias ply tires do not. In the dirt late model/modified/sprint and pavement late model worlds, Hoosier has been consolidating their bias ply tire construction offerings.
Specialty Tires America (American Racer/McCreary) has two production plants, both in USA, and only makes bias ply commercial, industrial, and racing tires. In the context of a shrinking market and lower profitability for 15″ wide 15″ wheel diameter bias ply racing slicks, it wouldn’t be surprising if Conti wants Hoosier to exit this market and STA is probably best positioned to take this relatively small (for Hoosier) market over to preserve the current new england pavement modified car basics and not create a catastrophic increased economic burden. If Nascar doesn’t do this due diligence with STA, then the market could turn to God forbid Cobra tire, or $800-$1000/tire Hoosier tires like many of their non DOT road race tires cost.