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 LAKEVILLE,
IN -- Pat Austin reached a milestone in his career at the NHRA season
opener in Pomona this past weekend when he notched his 75th national
event victory at the 42nd annual K&N Filters NHRA Winternationals.
Hoosier Drag Tire Product Manager Faron Lubbers talked at length with
Pat about the historic achievement and his association with Hoosier
over the years after his latest Top Alcohol Funny Car win in his IRC
Performance Push Rods Stealth Firebird.
Pat Austin now ranks fourth in
total NHRA career wins with 75, behind only John Force (98), Warren
Johnson (87) and Bob Glidden (85). In addition to his 75 national
event wins, Pat has also won 81 points races for a staggering 156 NHRA
event victories, making him arguably one of the winningest drivers in
NHRA history. Not bad for the 37-year-old Washington State native who
has a few more (1/4) miles left in him. Over the course of the
lengthy discussion, one might get the idea Pat's father and crew chief
Walt was close by. It was "My father and I felt..." or, "Me and my Dad
thought...." It was clear Pat and Walt have a close relationship on and off the
track. So, just how did Pat Austin and Hoosier's paths come to
cross? Back in 1985, when Austin started NHRA racing, his class
competitors were posting ET's of 6.30's and 6.40's, or nearly a full
second slower than current times. But as technology advanced, it was
apparent the tires used at the time were not progressing to the point
of transferring those advances to the track. Pat recalled,
"For over eight years we were battling tire shake and tire spin
problems." But by chance, Pat happened to talk to his friend and
fellow NHRA competitor Mike Ferderer who had switched to Hoosier
tires and was pleased with their performance characteristics. Ferderer
had suggested that Austin try a set of the Hoosier slicks. (Ferderer also won the NHRA Super Comp final at
Pomona where Austin picked up his 75th national event win.) Not long
after this conversation and witnessing the growing presence of Hoosier
in IHRA, highlighted by the success of Von Smith, Austin sought out
the Hoosier drag tire trailer at the 1999 US Nationals in Indianapolis
to inquire about getting a set of slicks to try out. At the following
event in Dallas, Austin bolted on his new set of Hoosier drag tires
during second round qualifying which marked the first time Hoosier
tires were used in NHRA Alcohol Funny Car competition. Pat and Walt
decided they should change gears in an effort to compensate for the
nearly 4-inch difference in roll out between the other tire brand and
the Hoosiers. To their amazement, the result was a run with no tire
shake. Admittedly, the run was "slow" according to Pat. But
he was confident as to why. He felt they went too high on the gear
ratio. Team-Austin was none the less encouraged and had something to
work on for the next event the following weekend in Houston. So,
with just one run under their belt on the new Hoosiers, it was on to
Houston. They opted to not run the Hoosiers on their first run, but
after another battle with tire shake, Walt and Pat decided to bolt on
the Hoosiers and "not change anything," according to Pat.
"We ran a 5.63 (ET) at 255 (mph), I think, which was really fast
and quick at the time, and then we went out and ran like a 5.64 (ET)
while not shakin' a tire, which was unheard of in the Alcohol class at
the time. Usually, you go down the race track, you're gonna shake one
out of two times." According to Pat, the Austin team was
elated with the results and thought, "If we really got
after it, we could really make these tires go. That's when we set the
world on it's ear by running a 5.56 (ET) at 257 (mph), and it hasn't
changed since then. It's been a rewarding feeling being able to say we
were the first to go down the race track in the 5.50's and we won the
race as well, which is the first time Hoosier had won in NHRA
Alcohol Funny Car competition." Austin proudly added,
"Everywhere you'd go after that race, everybody had to have
Hoosiers in an Alcohol Funny Car and Dragster, and nobody is willing
to change back for any reason." So, that is where it all
began, a successful family of racers joining forces with the Hoosier
family to, "set the world on its ear." Pat and his
wife, Keila, have a son, Drew, and a daughter, Allison. But it is not
all about racing with the Austin family. Evidence that Pat has his
priorities straight include that he will not be at the next NHRA
event in Las Vegas, but rather will be with his son at the "Reno World of
Wrestling" for kids 18 and under. Drew will be competing
after capturing wrestling titles in the state of Washington. Sports
have always been a part of the Austin family. Pat
won the Washington State Championship in shot-put three consecutive
years during his sophomore, junior and senior years, as well as being
a football All-Star his senior year. As many know, both Hoosier Tire
and Team-Austin are family oriented. And in a business where racing
can be tough on families, Pat added with pride, "I have been able
to do this with my family in my corner all through this experience. Me
and my dad, sure we fight in the heat of the battle, but at the end of
the day we're still family and we still love each other. I'm probably
closer to my dad and my family now than when I was 18 years old when I
started racing." Austin concluded by saying, "The
relationship with you guys (Hoosier) has been so much fun and you're
so supportive. You're always there for us and very helpful. We really
appreciate that." To which Hoosier's Faron Lubbers replied,
"Well, you guys make it enjoyable. Sure we have a job to do, but
when you like who you're working with, it really makes a
difference." Team-Austin and Hoosier, along with a wheel
manufacturer, will be working together to develop a tubeless innertire
for drag racing use later this year. Congratulations Pat on winning
your 75th national event and for joining Team-Hoosier. You are a
class-act with whom we are very proud to be associated. |
