Goodyear Gatorback Automotive Belts and NASCAR Extend Relationship

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 11, 2009 -- Goodyear Gatorback automotive belt manufacturer Veyance Technologies and National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced a 3-year extension of an agreement keeping Goodyear Gatorback as an exclusive NASCAR Performance partner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race contingency award sponsor.

Goodyear belts have been used by NASCAR teams since 1981 and became the exclusive NASCAR Performance sponsor of automotive-aftermarket belts in 1997. This season, Gatorback Poly-V belts are used by every major race team with the same belt construction available for race fans at auto parts retailers and installers.

The weekly "Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap" contingency award introduced in 2003 recognizes a driver with the quickest lap while leading each NASCAR Sprint Cup race. In addition, a bonus award goes to the driver that wins the most Gatorback fastest lap awards in a season.

In 2008, Jimmie Johnson was the recipient of this award, logging the quickest lap while leading nine races. Kevin Harvick captured the fastest lead lap time of the year at 198.261 mph at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

"The Gatorback contingency award sponsorship and NASCAR Performance licensing program link our track success to car owners and drivers, whether on a race oval, busy highway or isolated road," said Tim Toppen, CEO and president of Veyance. "Racing keeps us on the cutting edge of rubber compounding and reinforcement technology and licensing provides our distributors with competitive marketing advantages."

Odis Lloyd, managing director of NASCAR's Automotive Group, agrees. "Fans are loyal buyers of race sponsor and participant products, and other consumers recognize that the NASCAR and Goodyear Gatorback names mean high performance and reliability," said Lloyd. "We're excited to extend this long-term relationship."

NASCAR reports it's the No. 1 spectator sport with 17 of the top 20 highest attended U.S. sporting events, the No. 2 rated regular-season televised sport and the sport with the most brand-loyal fans.

Last year, a new Goodyear Gatorback timing belt with carbon fiber in its rubber compound was made available to race teams. The rubber compounding and reinforcement technology has been incorporated into a new Goodyear Gatorback Sport ATV belt and soon-to-be-introduced snowmobile belt.