Frank Aragona has been part of drag racing for half a century. An Englishtown resident, Aragona now operates a multi-car team with cars in the Competition Eliminator and Super Comp categories.

Through the years there has been one constant in Aragona’s approach to racing and that has been his tires. Aragona’s team competes on Goodyear Eagle Dragway Specials.      

“I’ve been loyal to them,” Aragona shrugged. “They’ve been loyal to me.”      

It goes beyond loyalty, obviously. Aragona’s race team has won with Goodyear tires. Aragona’s son, Frank Jr., won the 2007 Competition Eliminator world championship and has won six national events in his dragster. All of those wins have been on Goodyears. In addition, Frank Jr. has won four divisional championships.  

Few racers get the same prolonged performance from their tires as the Aragonas. Frank Sr. keeps notebooks on each car the team campaigns and he has one set of Goodyear’s D4205  Nationals got underway at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Another pair of D4205s had made 149 competitive trips down the quarter mile on a different Aragona car.

You’d think there is a secret to getting so many uses out of a pair of racing tires, but Frank Aragona Sr. said the secret is common sense between races. 

“I just make sure I air them up a little better than … the way I use them,” the elder Aragona said. “I keep them off the ground, keep them indoors.” 

The D4205s Aragona has used more than 200 times is at least four seasons old, he said. Goodyear’s front runner tires, Aragona said, last even longer. He said he used a set of front runners for eight seasons.  

One way racers can contain the expense of their sport is to get the maximum performance life out of their tires and Frank Aragona is as good as anyone at making his tires last. Aragona chooses Goodyear tires.  

It’s smart to listen to what Frank Sr. has to say. He is a member of the NHRA’s Division 1 Hall of Fame for his wrench turning.