After maneuvering his way to the top spot in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driver Jimmie Johnson was awarded his fourth consecutive Goodyear Gatorback Belts Fastest Lap Award.
Created in 2003, the Gatorback Belts Fastest Lap Award recognizes the NASCAR Cup Series driver who wins the most Fastest Lap Awards each week throughout the season with a solid crystal trophy and $100,000 check. Weekly fastest lap awards are earned by drivers posting the fastest lap time while leading the race. Johnson, who races for Hendrick Motorsports, earned this year’s Fastest Lap Award Championship through a tie-breaker with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin because of his higher position in the overall point standings.
“Jimmie’s a fierce competitor, who displays diverse, yet consistent driving talent,” said Tory Perren, aftermarket marketing manager for Veyance Technologies, the exclusive manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered Products. “His efforts on and off the track with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation make it an honor to recognize him with this award again this year.”
Veyance, who supplies Gatorback Poly-V belts and other Goodyear-branded automotive aftermarket parts to all NASCAR Cup Series teams, shares similar success on and off the raceway with its Track-to-Street technology. The same belts used under the hoods of NASCAR vehicles are also used by automotive technicians who service race fans and their passenger vehicles.
Veyance’s Track-to-Street technology is based on taking information from NASCAR crews and incorporating it into its research and development process.
“On the race track, engines are always going faster, and loads are always going higher,” said Mike Gregg, a Veyance engineer for over 40 years who works closely with NASCAR teams. “If a belt can be broken, a racecar driver usually finds a way to do it.”
Gregg speaks from experience. In 2002, he and Veyance worked directly with NASCAR engineers to introduce Poly-V belts that could minimize belt failure on engines with increased horsepower. It just so happens that Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 car was one of the first to test this new technology on the NASCAR circuit.
“He was the new boy on the block back then,” said Gregg. “But he didn’t take long to show what the Gatorback Poly-V design could do. They’ve been very reliable.”
Since Goodyear Gatorback aftermarket belts became an exclusive NASCAR performance part in 1997, racing has helped Veyance maintain its leading position in belt innovation. The information gathered by Gregg from Hendrick Motorsports and other teams each week is given to Veyance’s research and development engineers in order to translate its on-track success to performance everyday motorists can rely on.
Veyance Technologies, Inc. is the exclusive manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered Products worldwide. In addition to automotive after market products, Veyance manufacturers and markets Goodyear-branded air springs, power transmission products, conveyor belts and services, industrial and hydraulic hose, rubber track and molded products. GOODYEAR trademarks are used by Veyance Technologies under license from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. For more information go to http://www.goodyearep.com/.
