Firestone Racing Receives EPA Recognition

On behalf of Firestone Racing, Al Speyer, Executive Director of Firestone Racing and Greer Tidwell, Director of Environmental Management accepted recognition as a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), which highlights environmental leadership through voluntary reduction of priority and hazardous chemicals such as lead.

A commemorative plaque was presented to Speyer and Tidwell at the Bridgestone Americas booth at the Chicago Auto Show – the world's largest consumer auto show. Presenting the award on behalf of the EPA was Janet Haff, Waste Minimization Coordinator.

During 2008, Firestone Racing permanently replaced the use of all lead wheel weights with non-toxic composite wheel weights and became a charter member of the National Lead Free Wheel Weight Initiative.

"Proving the switch to non-lead balance weights can be done on the racetrack is an important highlight of the Lead-Free Wheel Weight Initiative," commented Tidwell. "Although the number of race cars is small compared to the thousands of vehicles serviced at Firestone Complete Auto Care(tm), Tires Plus(tm), ExpertTire(tm) and Wheel Works(tm) service centers, the leadership impact is huge." Bridgestone Retail Operations, which operates the retail service centers, is also a member of the EPA partnership and was the first major automotive service provider to announce the voluntary move to steel wheel weights.

"We are proud to receive this recognition from the EPA," commented Speyer. "Racing provides a very visible platform through which we are able to convey our company's 'One Team, One Planet' program, and we could not be more pleased that the EPA is able to leverage that visibility to promote their NPEP initiative."