| It took the inventor about two and a half minutes to | | | | quick sketch was developed showing a poly-styrene |
| see an opportunity as he stood and watched | | | | insert being put into the used NASCAR race tire. The |
| hundreds of used NASCAR tires being hauled away | | | | insert was constructed of the same FDA approved |
| from the race track. There were truckloads piled | | | | material used in kitchen appliances to be sure the |
| with as many as eight to ten tires high across the | | | | cooler was of the highest standard of quality. Some |
| length and width of the eighteen-wheelers who had | | | | additional features were added such as a drainage |
| the task of moving them to their final resting place - | | | | plug and a lid, and the concept became reality. |
| the trash heap. Those tires could sit in a garbage pile | | | | The next issue to conquer was how to make it easy |
| for hundreds of years before they broke down in to | | | | and affordable to be able to complete the assembly. |
| anything that the earth could reclaim as its own, | | | | The engineers got together and created a mold that |
| thought the young man. | | | | could easily grab the tire and craft a mold directly |
| The inquiry as to whether the tires did get chewed | | | | inside of the tire, without causing damage to the |
| up and used as playground material or reground and | | | | actual tire itself. After the engineering feat was |
| used again as tires went unanswered. He began to | | | | accomplished successfully, all that remained was how |
| think to himself - what could these tires be used for, | | | | to manufacture the final product in a dependable and |
| where could they find a second useful life. The first | | | | cost effective manner. |
| idea was to sell the used tires to race fans. He | | | | The inventor turned to Goodwill Industries for the |
| thought that most people would love to have a tire | | | | task and the relationship has blossomed over the last |
| used directly in a real live race, complete with all the | | | | couple of years. The employees at Goodwill go |
| actual grease marks from the pit crew. He thought | | | | above and beyond the call of duty to be sure that |
| about how much it would cost to gather the tires, | | | | every race cooler has their personal stamp of quality |
| store them, develop a team to sell them and at what | | | | associated with it. Many at Goodwill take the quality |
| price point he should ask so that he could make a | | | | task so seriously that they will spend their breaks |
| small profit for his effort. The idea fell short of being | | | | talking about ways to improve the process and |
| sound enough to gather momentum and take flight. | | | | trying to develop better ways to provide a piece of |
| A short brainstorming session a few weeks later | | | | genuine NASCAR merchandise that any fan would be |
| came up with the idea that would help to blaze a | | | | proud to own. |
| path in history - those tires could be used again if he | | | | NASCAR Memorabilia has never looked so great. The |
| could make them useful and the idea that was | | | | team has invented the perfect NASCAR gift. |
| developed was to turn the tires into tire coolers. A | | | | |