In a memo sent out last week to Busch Grand National competitors, NASCAR Busch Series director John Darby has informed the teams to be rain-ready for the Lysol 200 at Watkins Glen on June 27th. The memo stated: ?????In wet conditions, and at the discretion of the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division director, competitors will be required to equip their cars with wet condition tires as specified and provided by Goodyear, a windshield water repellent, windshield wiper(s), windshield defogger fan(s), and a rear taillight.???? The taillight, affixed to the inside center of the rear window, will not be wired to the brakes, but should be illuminated during rainy conditions. The Goodyear rain tire has been used in the past, but not for a points event. The first use of the tire in competition was two years ago during qualifying for the Suzuka exhibition event. The rain tires were tested at The Glen several years ago by Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt. It was with their input, along with NASCAR, that the decision to proceed with further development was based. Rain tires were tested at the Martinsville oval by Terry Labonte, again several years ago, but it was deemed that rain tires would be unworkable on an oval track. Several of the teams that tested at Sears Point took rain tires with them in the event that rain became a factor for the test session(Speedway Scene)(5-8-1999)
