The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has unveiled a commemorative sidewall design with a blimp theme in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp. This design will be used for all NASCAR stock cars during the Goodyear 400 and the Xfinity series races during NASCAR's Official Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway.

In addition to a banner announcing the 100-year milestone, Goodyear's Eagle racing tyres will include a historic photograph of the company's first branded blimp, ‘Pilgrim’, which flew in 1925. The Goodyear 400's home track, Darlington Raceway, is also commemorating its 75th anniversary in 2025. Following the blimp's arrival in Daytona yesterday to broadcast the 2025 NASCAR season's marquee event, the announcement was made. Throughout the weekend, NASCAR racing events will be televised on FOX and CW, giving fans a chance to see the iconic blimp overhead. Additionally, the blimp-themed tyres will be used in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and World Endurance Challenge (WEC) at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.

Stu Grant, General Manager, Goodyear Global Race Tires, said, "Very few brands have the opportunity to celebrate a milestone as significant as 100 years. Goodyear and NASCAR have been providing fans with unforgettable aerial views and thrilling races for nearly as long. It will be a special commemoration of the blimp's 100th anniversary at the Goodyear 400 with the blimp on the tyres and in the sky overhead at an historic venue like Darlington."

Bonanza for Blimp fans

The blimp's 100th anniversary is officially recognised by Goodyear on 3 June 2025. Fans of the Goodyear Blimp may take part in this momentous occasion by following the blimp's tour of more than 100 cities on GoodyearBlimp.com and social media. This will allow them to keep an eye out for chances to get a close-up look at the enormous symbol as it makes airborne visits around the nation all year long.

Goodyear's fleet of three US blimps will also wear bespoke tyres in 2025 as they travel to special events all year long, in addition to showcasing its famous airship on race tyres for its centenary anniversary. This weekend's Daytona 500 events will give fans their first look at the tyres, which include blimp silhouettes and dazzling gold writing.

Additionally, fans may participate in the ‘Buy for a Chance to Fly’ sweepstakes for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime passenger travel experience. Each of the three fortunate fans will get a USD 3,000 travel and lodging voucher in addition to a blimp flight certificate for two passengers that may be used at any of Goodyear's three US airship facilities (Carson, California; Pompano Beach, Florida or Akron, Ohio). Fans who would like to enter for a chance to win a flight are encouraged to buy tyres on Goodyear.com or through the Goodyear Auto Service or Just Tires network between 1 January and 10 April 2025, and then use a form on Goodyear.com to enter the sweepstakes (no purchase necessary, terms and conditions apply).

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Nokian Tyres will withdraw its sponsorship of the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship should Russia be permitted to compete, the company has confirmed. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that cleared Russian national teams to return to international ice hockey. Nokian Tyres stated that continuing the sponsorship under such circumstances would conflict with its values. Tiina Frazer, SVP of Brand, Marketing and Communications, explained that while the 2026 tournament cooperation proved highly successful, the company felt compelled to act on its principles regarding Russian participation.

The tyre manufacturer had been named an Official Sponsor for both the 2026 and 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in late 2025. Its 2026 involvement included the ‘Carve the Corners’ contest, running from 6 February to 20 March, which offered fans in the United States and Canada a chance to win a trip to the tournament. The 2026 event, held from 15 to 31 May, featured 64 games with 16 top national teams competing for the title and stands as the world’s largest annual winter sports event.

Frazer said, “Our sponsorship agreement with the IIHF covers the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, and our cooperation around the 2026 tournament was very successful. However, under the current circumstances, continuing the sponsorship if Russia participates would not be aligned with our values. We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship of the 2027 World Championship should Russia be allowed to take part.”

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Professor James Busfield of Queen Mary University of London has been awarded the prestigious IRCO Medal by the International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) in recognition of his longstanding contribution to international rubber conferences. The honour was presented by IRCO Executive Chairman Michael Clayton at IRC 2026 in Aichi, Japan, immediately before Busfield delivered his plenary lecture. The IRCO Committee unanimously approved the award at its meeting in Bangkok on 2 December 2025.

His involvement with the organisation spans more than a decade, having represented the United Kingdom on the IRCO Committee since 2013. He chaired and organised IRC 2019 in London, attracting 550 delegates, and led the organisation of RubberCon events in Manchester in 2014 and Edinburgh in 2023, the latter welcoming over 310 participants from 26 countries. A frequent plenary and keynote speaker, he also regularly involves postgraduate students in these international gatherings, providing opportunities to showcase their research and build professional connections.

Left to right: Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO; Professor James Busfield, Queen Mary University of London; and Professor Mikihito Takenaka, Congress Chair of IRC2026 AICHI and Professor at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University.

Beyond his international conference work, Busfield has headed the Elastomer Group at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) since 1995. Under his leadership, the group has delivered more than 100 meetings and conferences for the rubber sector while introducing hybrid events to expand global accessibility. At Queen Mary, he serves as Professor of Materials, National Teaching Fellow, Deputy Head of School and Head of the UK's largest soft matter research group. His career began in automotive suspension engineering before he completed his doctorate under Professor Alan Thomas.

Busfield's research encompasses rubber friction, fatigue, fracture, recycling and smart materials, supported by more than 190 peer-reviewed publications and industrial collaborations with Bridgestone, Continental, Aston Martin F1 and Schlumberger. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020, he has also received the Colwyn Medal (2009), the American Chemical Society Rubber Division's George Stafford Whitby Award (2021) and the IOM3 T B Marsden Medal (2024).

Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO, said, “James never travels alone. At every conference he brings his students, and gives them the chance to present, to meet people and to begin their careers in our industry. He is incredibly generous with his time, and one of our industry's most engaging speakers. Professor Busfield is an incredibly worthy recipient of the IRCO Medal.”

Professor James Busfield said, “It is a great honour to receive the IRCO Medal. IRCO has coordinated the International Rubber Conference and RubberCon events for about 60 years, and I have been fortunate to have been a part of that community for about half of that time. I enjoy greatly participating in these conferences and value the opportunity to meet the global rubber experts, discuss with them new innovations and together help to move the discipline and our industry forward. My thanks are extended to all of those from the global rubber community who have worked to make our IRCO events so successful.”

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Hankook Tire is set to exhibit at the 2026 SEMA Show, the leading annual gathering for aftermarket automotive manufacturers, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company’s display at Booth #80021 in the Silver Lot will feature a broad selection from its Dynapro line, a brand focused on SUVs and light trucks, alongside a rally car from the FIA World Rally Championship.

The Dynapro showcase will include four products: the mud-terrain Dynapro MT2, the rugged-terrain Dynapro XT, the all-terrain Dynapro AT2 Xtreme and the highway-terrain Dynapro HT2. These will be presented together with customised off-road vehicles and the WRC rally car, underscoring the company’s engineering capabilities across varied driving conditions.

Two customised vehicles will demonstrate the lineup’s versatility: the TRAILFINDER Nissan Xterra, previously called Project X, fitted with Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tyres, and the Donut Media Baja Bug equipped with Dynapro MT2 tyres. These builds illustrate Dynapro’s performance across different off-road environments while reinforcing Hankook’s ties to SUV and off-road communities in North America. Donut Media hosts Justin Freeman and Adam Knapik will appear at the booth on 4 November from 11 AM to 4 PM to meet visitors and discuss the Baja Bug build and the NORA 500 event.

A WRC rally car equipped with Dynapro R213 competition tyres will also be on display. Engineered for gravel rally conditions, the R213 offers grip, handling stability, and durability on unpaved surfaces, highlighting Hankook’s specialised tyre development in high-performance motorsports. The company continues to build its premium presence in North America through events such as SEMA and Overland Expo, and aims to strengthen its position in the global SUV and light truck tyre market by leveraging technologies and expertise gained from motorsports and demanding driving environments.

Aaron Hong, Vice President – Marketing, Hankook Tire America Corp, said, "SEMA continues to provide an important opportunity for Hankook to connect with the automotive aftermarket and demonstrate our commitment to innovation and performance. From the technical demands of WRC competition to the diverse needs of SUV and light truck drivers, our Dynapro portfolio reflects the depth of our tyre engineering expertise. We're excited to showcase our products alongside an impressive collection of vehicles that highlight our continued focus on performance, versatility and engagement with the enthusiast community."

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Nokian Tyres has launched its 2026 Virtual Green Tire Giveaway, an annual campaign tied to the company's partnerships with leading mountain resorts across US and Canada. The programme, which debuted in 2023, continues to connect drivers with winter destinations, resort partners and the Nokian Tyres brand through an interactive digital scavenger hunt offering weekly tyre prizes and a grand-prize mountain getaway.

Running through 22 November, the campaign invites participants to follow clues posted on Nokian Tyres' social media channels and those of participating mountain resorts to find a virtual green tyre hidden on an interactive map. A new resort destination and fresh set of clues are unveiled each week, with weekly winners earning a free set of tyres and runners-up receiving resort lift ticket vouchers.

On 23 November, one grand prize winner will be randomly selected to receive a three-night mountain getaway. Further information on featured resorts and clues is available through Nokian Tyres' North America Facebook and Instagram channels, while complete details and participation options can be found online, with a dedicated page offered for French-speaking Canadians.

Hans Dyhrman, Director of Marketing, Nokian Tyres, said, "Our resort partnerships help us connect with consumers who embrace winter and seek adventure. The Virtual Green Tire Giveaway is an engaging way for Nokian Tyres to reach drivers as they prepare for the winter season while highlighting the confidence and peace of mind our tyres provide."

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