Goodyear has made the headlines multiple times this year. Firstly, the Bristol spectacle – drivers were caught unawares in a wild tire management race. Both Goodyear and NASCAR were left scratching their heads and also fascinated, as they tried to replicate the spectacle. But this is not the first time the brand whipped up public reception due to faulty tires,

Richard Petty was there to witness it, albeit at a different race track. However, back then, the response was far from positive like in Bristol. Drivers’ safety became a pressing issue as the newly constructed 2.66-mile drafting track seemed out for blood. Yet NASCAR’s founder, Bill France, had a unique publicity trick up his sleeve which was inspired by Daytona’s history.

Richard Petty reveals Talladega’s story

The sights and sounds of dramatic crashes and grinding sheet metal keep lurking around Talladega Superspeedway. This race track allowed race cars to reach dizzying speeds – so NASCAR implemented restrictor plate racing in 1970. This made way for bunched-up racing that led to frequent ‘Big Ones’. However, Talladega’s dread began in the very first year Bill France unveiled it. He built the track with a 33-degree bank on an old abandoned airfield and opened it on September 13, 1969. The result shocked Richard Petty and his peers.

Goodyear had brainstormed a method to make the race more exciting, which Richard Petty recalled in a recent interview with NASCAR, noting, “At that time, we had treaded tires – they had a lot of rubber on them. I mean, we averaged 199, almost 200 mph for an average speed. They finally figured out that by having the treaded tire plus having so much rubber…As the momentum went, the rubber would just go away – it couldn’t keep up with the tire. Four, five laps and we were just throwing them clean up.”

Although a select section of drivers drove the first race, it was an absolute hit. That was because France took a page from Daytona’s first race, won by Lee Petty, Richard’s father. Richard ‘The King” Petty recalled that publicity hack, helped by Goodyear: “You know, looking back at the thing, it was a bad week from one standpoint. But it made too much news that everybody in the country knew about Talladega. Same thing with Daytona the first race – Bill France probably knew my daddy won the first race. But he put it off for three days, got all that free publicity. That tire problem that happened, NASCAR, the racetrack – got all that publicity for a couple of weeks.”

Despite recalling the iconic memories of Talladega Superspeedway with a smile, Richard Petty held a polar stance back then.

Protest against the track

Currently, NASCAR is undergoing a major turning point in its history. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams who refrained from signing the new charter deal. But they are also at the helm of a lawsuit against NASCAR’s monopolistic practices. This is hardly the first time drivers or race teams have united to call for change. When the Next Gen car debuted, safety concerns prompted the sport to implement changes. Similarly, Talladega’s opening also revealed massive risks for drivers.

Two-time Talladega winner Richard Petty led the Professional Drivers Association, which rallied against NASCAR holding the first race at the Alabama track. He opened up about that situation: “All the drivers and stuff got together and said, we’re not going to do this. I mean, we risk our lives enough. But when we know we got a problem, then we’re not gonna do it. Goodyear was stubborn enough, they were gonna try to stay.” In the end, NASCAR rounded up another group of drivers willing to run the ‘Rebel 400’ race – including Richard Childress. But Richard Brickhouse won the first-ever Cup Series race at Talladega, never to win a race again.

As we get ready to watch the same race 55 years later, Richard Petty’s stories enthrall us. Are you waiting to see how wild this race turns out to be? Share below.