AKRON, Ohio, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) will customize its iconic Goodyear Eagle race tires for the seventh consecutive year to support the U.S. Armed Forces.

Goodyear, the Official Tire of NASCAR, will replace the "Eagle" logo on the sidewalls of its race tires with "Support Our Troops" messaging on tires used during all NASCAR races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. The NASCAR industry kicks off its annual military tribute, NASCAR: An American Salute™, leading up to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

"Support for the military is part of the fabric of our company," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of global racing. "Goodyear's rich history of making tires for the U.S. Armed Forces is a source of pride for our associates – especially the many that have served – and these tires are a reflection of our deep respect for all Military branches." 

Goodyear has more than 100 years of history building innovative tires and equipment to help support and protect U.S. troops and is the largest producer of military tires in the country. The company was recently recognized as a Military Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs magazine for its leadership in hiring and supporting veterans. In 2014, Goodyear surpassed a three-year goal of hiring 1,000 veterans and since then, Goodyear has renewed the commitment to hiring another 1,000 veterans over three years.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat ('NASCAR').

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company