Champion Tire & Wheel, Inc.

02/19/2026

Repeated time-n-time again at race tracks across the country-“Rubbin’, son, is racin’.” It was the line made famous by Robert Duvall starring as Harry Hogge in 1990 film, Days of Thunder. Duvall’s character of Hary Hogge, was based on legendary NASCAR crew chief Harry Hyde and his relationship with driver Tim Richmond- which was the basis of Tom Cruise's character, Cole Trickle.

The roots of NASCAR stock car racing in North Carolina really come alive in many of the scenes, one of which was when Hogge is talking to the chassis he's building for Trickle in an old barn in Mooresville, NC. Stand next to the trailer and you can almost hear him sayin’ "I'm gonna give you an engine, low to the ground... extra thick oil pan that'll cut the wind from underneath ya, see. It'll give you thirty or forty more horsepower."

Duvall has starred in a lot of movies but for folks involved in racing and fans of the sport….Duvall was iconic in his role in Days of Thunder. All systems on go-status in Atlanta. God Speed Harry Hogge.

02/12/2026

it's time

11/05/2025

a 2-time champion & a 4-time champion surrounded by 47 Champion employees....a recipe for an epic 2025 team picture...congratulations to all.

07/31/2025

The Brickyard 400 was not just another weekend for Champion. In route to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway we traveled over 120 miles autonomously on the I-70 corridor through Ohio & Indiana. The technology and systems to do this were provided by Kratos Defense (Nasdaq: KTN) & the tires by Goodyear (Nasdaq: GY). We thank them for their collaboration to put the whole effort together.
Our quest for wanting to do this is to eventually eliminate situations where our solo drivers need to take a 10-hour break in their travels to comply with the DOT logbook regulations. This downtime is hard on the equipment, the environment, and the drivers themselves. In situations where a 10-hour break is required, the thought is to team the lead truck and follower truck would follow autonomously. This helps keep the fleet rolling efficiently to get to the next race track or to Cornelius, NC, which is where we can provide the magic of what we do for our customers. Full implementation of the technology might be years away to do this but Champion’s quest is to be on the fore-front of the evolution, and have a another tool that our drivers could use to aid them in managing the complexities of the NASCAR circuit.

The effort drew a lot of media attention, even went out worldwide on the GlobalNewsWire. One of the articles run by Forbes Magazine is attached in the link.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbishop1/2025/07/28/kratos-platoons-power-champion-tire-logistics-at-nascar-brickyard-400/

07/18/2025

Champion Tire & Wheel Prepares for Historic Brickyard 400 with First-Ever Automated Truck Deployment

CORNELIUS, NC, July 18, 2025 – Champion Tire & Wheel announced today its plans to deploy an automated truck platoon, powered by Kratos Defense driverless technology and premium Goodyear commercial truck tires, to support the Brickyard 400 on July 27, 2025, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—marking the first known use of driverless truck technology in global motorsports logistics.
The deployment features a human-driven lead truck paired with an autonomous follower vehicle—showcasing how automation can complement existing operations and improve logistics efficiency without disrupting workflows. Champion Tire & Wheel, in partnership with Kratos Defense and collaboration with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, is proud to be the first in the motorsports world to integrate this advanced technology into race support operations.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve how we serve the teams and meet the demands of a fast-paced race schedule,” said Kevin Mahl, President & CEO of Champion Tire & Wheel. “The autonomous technology gives us an additional tool to keep our fleet moving efficiently when tight timelines and long distances come into play; and the Goodyear tires on the trucks and trailers help us maintain fuel efficiency and optimal performance across demanding routes. We’re excited to see it all come together at the track—the ultimate proving grounds.”
Champion Tire & Wheel has a long-standing commitment to transforming motorsports logistics. Since 2002, the company has pioneered new ways to deliver race-ready wheels and pit equipment, developing proprietary tracking systems, automated wheel inspection processes, and optimized handling practices to treat wheels as critical performance components—not just freight.
“This is more than just a tech demo, it’s about showing how automation can solve real-world logistics challenges,” said Maynard Factor, VP of Business Development at Kratos. “Champion and Goodyear are forward-thinking companies who understand that the future of mobility starts with operational relevance, and this deployment proves just that.”
Complementing Champion Tire & Wheel’s deep roots in motorsports, Goodyear’s involvement with the Brickyard 400 dates back to its inaugural race in 1994, showcasing our shared legacy of performance.
“Goodyear has long stood at the intersection of driving performance and vehicle intelligence—from the racetrack to autonomous innovation,” said Rich Cottrell, Senior Director, Commercial Marketing, Goodyear. “This deployment connects Goodyear’s racing legacy with our premium commercial tire technology and fleet solutions—helping advance performance and uptime for modern logistics. We’re proud to support this milestone with Kratos and Champion Tire & Wheel.”
“Our mission is to deliver race-ready wheels and pit equipment to every track. The confidence teams place in our work is what drives us,” said Todd Carpenter, Vice President & General Manager of Champion Tire & Wheel. “This deployment, made possible through our collaboration with Kratos Defense and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, is another step forward in making our logistics operations smarter, safer, and more efficient.”
The deployment will run along the I-70 Truck Automation Corridor between Columbus, OH and Indianapolis, IN, providing a real-world demonstration of how automated systems can help solve practical logistics challenges in one of the most time-sensitive supply chains in the country.
Champion Tire & Wheel remains focused on adopting solutions that drive operational excellence, safety, and reliability for the racing teams and partners it proudly supports.

For additional information on the driverless technology, contact:
Maynard Factor
VP of Business Development
Kratos Defense – Uncrewed Systems Division

06/27/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ib5A7tPgn8

While at the Pocono Raceway on Sunday during a NASCAR Cup race, Scott Felthousen of Champion Tire & Wheel gives us a quick rundown on what he does for the co...

06/12/2025

For the first time in over 65 years NASCAR Cup series is hosting a race outside of the United States. On June 15th, is the landmark Viva Mexico 250 at the legendary Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, racing at over 7,000 feet of elevation, this is not another weekend in racing, its history making.

145,000 combined miles…14 days…a border crossing…this race is truly defying limits and a true logistical gauntlet, but making history has never been easy. The journey began at Michigan International Speedway traveling south to Laredo, Texas and onto Mexico City. The return trip north hits Laredo for the border crossing and then onto Pocono Raceway for the next race. Months of logistics, planning, international cooperation, customs coordination, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears have gone into preparing our 27 tractor trailers to make the trip south of the border. 67 hours after departing Michigan, our last trucks rolled into Mexico City.

We can't even begin to describe how proud we are of all our employees for their unwavering perseverance and dedication that have made this race possible. They have truly risen to the unprecedented task of crossing an entire continent to bring stock car racing to a whole new level of a world stage.

“Pilotos, enciendan sus motores!"
“Drivers, start your engines!”
All systems ago from 📍The entire North American continent

03/13/2025

Released 48 years ago & making a return debut this weekend in Vegas on a much-anticipated new trailer wrap.….a tribute to Smokey & the Bandit, a movie that captured lightning in a bottle in 1977 with a storyline that featured beautiful tractor-trailers, souped-up cars, the thrill of the open road, and an outlaw spirit that reminded race fans especially of NASCAR’s roots from days-gone-by of the bootleggers and moonshiners. Instead of moonshine it was Coors beer & it was a story about a wealthy Texan named Big Enos Burdette who wants to drink Coors in Georgia, where it's illegal. To get the beer, he offers truck driver Bo "Bandit" Darville $80,000 to pick it up in Texas and drive it to Georgia in under 28 hours. In hot pursuit was Sheriff Buford T. Justice who is prominently featured on the trailer…. Get real close & you can hear him yellin'…..”You got trouble comin'. My handle is Smokey Bear, and I'm tail-grabbin' yo' ass right now!” Or “I'm gonna barbecue yo' ass in molasses!” Or “ I saw that, you sumbitch! You did that on purpose! You're going away till you're gray! I got the evidence!”

The Bandit himself Burt Reynolds, and director Hal Needham even saw the NASCAR connection as they co-founded a team in the early 1980’s that featured the Skoal Bandit car driven by Harry Gant. The team most certainly added a bit of show business to the sport, and even was the impetus for the 1983 movie Stroker Ace.

Smokey & the Bandit struck a nerve as there is nothing more American than the freedom of the open road, truck drivin’, and stock car racing... “For the good ol' American life: For the money, for the glory, and for the fun... mostly for the money”. Smokey & the Bandit has stood the test of time as it has endured for generations, something few movies accomplish.

Champion continues to operate with a mindset similar to that of the Snowman (and don’t forget Fred)….”WHOA! Negatory, negatory, what're you, crazy or something? We come this far, ain't we? LOOK, WHEN WE SAY WE GONNA DO A JOB, WE GONNA DO A JOB!”

All systems on go-status in Vegas. Welcome back Bandit!

📍 36°16′17″N 115°00′40″W / 36.27134°N 115.01112°W Las Vegas, Nevada, The United States of America

02/12/2025

It's time

02/08/2025

Last night was a Hall of Fame kinda night. Congratulations to all the inductees especially Champion friend Ricky Rudd. Ricky showed us what it means to have grit, determination, & what it means to persist & endure. From the stories like in the ‘84 Daytona 500 where his face was so swollen from a a bad wreck 2 days prior that they taped his eyes open to be able to run the Daytona 500 mile race… to ‘98 Martinsville where he won the race despite having burned & blistered his whole body, then was taken out of the car & away on a stretcher. Those were just 2 of his 788 consecutive starts that earned him the title of NASCAR’s Ironman. In addition to all that Ricky is also a true southern gentleman…speaking of which Leonard Wood was in the house to celebrate the Wood Bros 100th victory along with Holman Moody driver Donnie Allison, who presented the induction to the Ralph Moody family. These characters from the prior generations give us an appreciation of where the sport has been & the foundation upon which future generations can build from. It was quite a night.

01/25/2025

just a bit of a Rolex 24-Hour race to get the dust blown off before the journey begins