[Tuck4Bama]

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Jarrett on Tuesday called on Goodyear to listen carefully to Tony Stewart's complaints about the tires the company has produced this season.


Although some drivers believe Stewart went overboard in his criticism of Goodyear following Sunday's race in Atlanta, Jarrett said the Akron, Ohio-based manufacturer needs to start constructing a better tire for Sprint Cup racing.

"I have no problem with what Tony Stewart said. I'm a huge supporter of Goodyear and all that they have done over the years, but somebody needs to wake up right now and listen to these guys," said Jarrett, the former series champion who is retiring following Sunday's race in Bristol, Tenn.

"We're talking about race drivers that have a huge amount of talent and very seldom complain about things like that."

Stewart was livid with Goodyear all last weekend, when he complained about a lack of grip on the hard tires the company sent to Atlanta. Following his second-place finish, the two-time series champion said Goodyear gave him "the most pathetic racing tire I've ever been on in my professional career."

Goodyear has staunchly defended its product. But Tuesday, Texas Motor Speedway officials said Goodyear will not bring the Atlanta tire to its track for next month's race.

Atlanta and Texas are essentially sister tracks with identical layouts and the same 24 degree banking in the corners.

Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the many drivers to echo Stewart's complaints after the Atlanta race, but a handful of drivers on Monday decided Stewart went too far.

"I think he went a little overboard. He kind of made it personal," Gordon, the four-time series champion, said. "We were all pretty out of control out there. I don't disagree with him as far as the comfort level in the situation we were in.

For more go to
MyFox Birmingham | Jarrett Urges Goodyear To Heed Stewart's Tire Complaints

[NASCAR Gnome]

Dale Junior was right when he said that NASCAR and Goodyear would have a rough week ahead of them when he was asked about the tires at Atlanta.

Dale Jarrett is yet another ex-champion (should you ever say "ex"? I mean, once a champ, always a champ, right?) who concurs with what's quickly becoming the consensus opinion in the NASCAR garage.

And to think, it took "Smoke" to signal a fire!

[Phils20]

That is because Tony is one of the few with a pair big enough to tell it like it is.

He may have, OK did, go overboard with saying he was gonna take all the Goodyears off his POV's, but he was right about that race tire on Sunday.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Don't forget, Smoke owns several dirt tracks and a whole bunch of race cars. If he says he's taking Goodyear off his owned vehicles, you could be looking at a LOT of vehicles! A fleet, maybe?!?

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Don't forget, Smoke owns several dirt tracks and a whole bunch of race cars. If he says he's taking Goodyear off his owned vehicles, you could be looking at a LOT of vehicles! A fleet, maybe?!?

And I doubt he'll be getting any discounts!