TIRE CHANGE REVS UP DRIVERS.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK  MOTOR SPORTS

NASCAR Super Truck drivers were forced to switch from Goodyear to Hoosier tires for Saturday night's race at Irwindale Speedway, and not many were happy about it.

Goodyear is having trouble supplying Irwindale Speedway drivers with tires for racing. Speculation was that when NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams complained about the Goodyear tires they were using and Goodyear started making replacements, it affected the production of tires for the lower divisions of NASCAR.

According to Justin Fantozzi, a sales and marketing manager from Goodyear, that is not the case.

``Demand is high for our product,'' Fantozzi said in an e-mail. ``We have taken steps to build our momentum in the fourth quarter of 2006, in order to be much better prepared to be a full-service supplier in 2007.''

Bottom line: Goodyear can't meet the demands of tracks such as Irwindale Speedway. As a result, Goodyears are out and Hoosiers are in, at least for the Super Trucks.

``Everyone within the racing supply chain is working diligently to resolve the issue,'' Fantozzi said. ``We have made two shipments to Irwindale in the last two weeks.''

That may be enough for the NASCAR Late Model drivers to finish the season, but the shipment is definitely too late for the Super Truck drivers.

Some drivers said they weren't informed about the change until the Friday night before the race, although track officials said they informed drivers the change was imminent.

Most drivers said they did not like the Hoosiers. For one, they are more slick than the Goodyears. One driver described the Hoosiers as ``skaty.''

``Nobody knows how they're going to act,'' said Super Trucks driver Brian Reed, of Castaic, before Saturday night's race.

Most drivers predicted there would be more wrecks during the race because of the Hoosier tires and the lack of experience driving on them.

``These tires, nobody has any faith in the them,'' said Super Trucks Series driver Scott Fortier of Santa Clarita.

There were two caution periods during the 40-lap Super Trucks race at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night. About a half-dozen trucks spun out, and series points leader Ron Peterson had tire problems throughout the race.

``They did what we all expected them to do,'' Fortier said. ``They didn't have any grip. There were a lot more spins than normal.''

Some Late Model drivers at Irwindale Speedway are preparing for a tire shortage in their division.

Track officials said they have the assurance of Goodyear that there will be enough tires for the Late Model drivers to finish the season.

Still, the Late Models drivers are not confident about Goodyear's commitment.

``It makes me nervous,'' said Late Model driver Travis Thirkettle of Newhall, the division points leader. ``I've never run Hoosiers before.''

Crow pads Stock lead

There's a rule in the NASCAR Pure Stock division at Irwindale Speedway that the winner of the previous race has to start last in the next race.

Simi Valley's Rick Crow has had to start last four times this year. He's won three times when that has happened.

Crow started Saturday night's Pure Stock race last again after winning the previous race July 1. Not that it mattered. He won again and has a commanding lead in the Pure Stock points race.

An opening-lap crash between Curtis Drye and Patrick Miller almost took out Crow, but he was able to squeak past the damaged cars in turn 2 and resume the race.

Harry Michaelian led the first 13 laps of the race before Crow made an outside pass at the starting line for the lead on lap 14.

Michaelian took back the lead on the next lap. The two swapped spots for a couple of laps before Crow took the lead for good on lap 17 of the 25-lap race.

It was the seventh win of the season and the fourth in a row for Crow. Mark Whitson was second and Michaelian was third.

Series points leader Jeff Williams of Newbury Park led the first 15 laps of the West Coast Pro Trucks race, but pole-sitter Rick Wall won his first race of the year.

It was Wall's first start in four races. His previous best finish of the year was second.

Williams finished second and maintained his lead in the West Coast Pro Trucks standings despite going winless this year.

The NASCAR Elite Division, Southwest Series, highlights a night of racing at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday.

Rip Michels of Mission Hills is leading the Southwest Series standings. M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park is fourth in points and has won the past two Southwest Series races.

Kanke also won the Southwest Series race at Irwindale Speedway last year.

The NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks and Mini Stocks are also scheduled to race Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Races start at 7.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) A switch from Goodyear to Hoosier tires has upset some drivers at Irwindale Speedway.

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

(2) CAPPS Box:

(1) THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

(2) Etc.