Although Pro Stock drivers weren’t caught off guard by NHRA’s mandate that all competitors in the class have to switch to Goodyear’s 2015 tire this season, the new tire already has rubbed one prominent team owner the wrong way.

Richard Freeman of Elite Motorsports, who fields two Pro Stock cars for reigning world champion Erica Enders-Stevens and rookie Drew Skillman, isn’t happy about the results he has seen from the new tire this week during testing at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park.

“I’ve been in Bradenton Fla., since last Saturday testing and the whole reason that we were told behind the new tire was to cut cost in the breaking-in procedure,” Freeman said. “What was supposed to happen is do a burnout, stage the car, and it’s ready to run, well that ain’t true. We have spent six total days (as of Jan. 15) breaking in 10 sets of tires. Then we got the first set that we deemed good enough to run, we made seven runs on them and they started chunking. Parts of the tire started flying off like a Top Fuel tire.”

Richard Freeman of Elite Motorsports, who fields two Pro Stock cars for reigning world champion Erica Enders-Stevens and rookie Drew Skillman, isn’t happy about the results he has seen from the new tire this week during testing at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park.Although Pro Stock drivers weren’t caught off guard by NHRA’s mandate that all competitors in the class have to switch to Goodyear’s 2015 tire this season, the new tire already has rubbed one prominent team owner the wrong way.

Richard Freeman of Elite Motorsports, who fields two Pro Stock cars for reigning world champion Erica Enders-Stevens and rookie Drew Skillman, isn’t happy about the results he has seen from the new tire this week during testing at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park.

“I’ve been in Bradenton Fla., since last Saturday testing and the whole reason that we were told behind the new tire was to cut cost in the breaking-in procedure,” Freeman said. “What was supposed to happen is do a burnout, stage the car, and it’s ready to run, well that ain’t true. We have spent six total days (as of Jan. 15) breaking in 10 sets of tires. Then we got the first set that we deemed good enough to run, we made seven runs on them and they started chunking. Parts of the tire started flying off like a Top Fuel tire.”

Freeman said Skillman was making a test lap when the tire started coming apart. According to Freeman, Enders-Stevens is in Bradenton, but she is not making any test runs.

“It’s not a savings thing for us,” Freeman said about the new tire. “Every team out there is going to incur tons of expense, not only buying the tire, but the inventory we already had built up is now worth nothing. I probably had 15 sets of tires we could’ve raced on into the 2015 season. The tire deal, them switching and all that stuff, is a call that’s way above me. They have to do what they have to do, I understand all of that. But, my biggest concern is safety. What’s going to happen if we get somebody hurt when one of these tires comes apart? We will cross that bridge when we get there I guess. They are coming apart and don’t let nobody tell you any different. That’s the (expletive) truth.”

Freeman offered his suggestion of what he thinks should be done about the use of the new tire.

“The right thing to do, in my opinion, is if they are going to mandate that tire, let’s get it worked out,” Freeman said. “All they are doing is taking people’s word for it, NHRA is in my opinion, and they don’t know if a (expletive) is any good or not, not a clue. What should happen is they ought to pay somebody to run them and watch them. It is what it is and we will do what we have to do and see what happens here.”

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