TAMPA, FL (February 2-5) -- Danny Lasoski took a calculated risk in Saturday's
East Bay 410 Sprint Winternationals electing to ride on a pair of Hoosier D10's
in the 50-lap finale. When the marathon race was over, Lasoski was in the
winner's circle for the second consecutive night holding a $10,000 paycheck.
Lasoski also used a pair of D10's the previous night passing 19 cars en route
to the win. On Saturday, Lasoski came from fifth to take the win as
Hoosier-shod cars once again dominated season-opening sprint racing in Florida.
It was the fourth consecutive year Hoosier has swept every feature in the
annual Winternationals. The event has successfully predicted the dominate tire
brand over the years and this year appears to be no different.
NIGHT #1
(February 2, 2005) -- The opening night of the
four-night event had 42 sprint cars in the pits with 40 of them trusting the
Hoosier brand. Chad Kemenah was fast qualifier at 12.208 seconds around the
1/3-mile clay oval as the top 12 qualifiers rode on Hoosier tires.
In the 25-lap A-Main, all but one of the 24 race
starters rode on the Hoosier brand. Josh Wells took the lead on the third lap
after starting in the second row. The Hoosier-shod Wells led the remainder of
the race to claim his first career win. Finishing in second place was Craig
Dollansky followed by Chad Kemenah, Greg Hodnett and Kelly Kinser in third
through fifth. In total, drivers
using Hoosier tires claimed the top 20 spots in the opening night race.
NIGHT #2
(February 3, 2005) -- The second night of action in
the Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park had 39 drivers posting times in
qualifying with 38 riding on Hoosier tires. Chad Kemenah was once again fast
qualifier circling the track in 12.233 seconds after getting out late for his
qualifying effort. Despite having time for just one qualifying lap, Kemenah
made the most of it posting the top time of the night.
In the 25-lap feature, all 24 starters rode atop Hoosier
tires. Kelly Kinser and Danny Lasoski started the race on the front row.
Ironically, both drivers were celebrating their respective birthdays. Kinser,
however, got the best present leading flag-to-flag to take the win. Kinser
admitted after the race, "My pit helper Justin "Moose" Ratcliff
and I did go with a softer Hoosier tire." Kinser used a pair of D10's for
the 25-lapper as did four of the top five finishers.
Kinser was followed to the line by Danny Smith
(left rear/right rear: D10/D10), Danny Lasoski (D10/RD12), Chad Kemenah
(D10/D10) and Jason Meyers (D10/D10) in second through fifth, respectively.
NIGHT #3
(February 4, 2004) -- The third night of racing at
East Bay had 40 cars in the pits with 38 of them on Hoosier tires. Craig
Dollansky was fast qualifier at 12.166 seconds, while Chad Kemenah was second
quick. Kemenah just missed earning his third straight top qualifier award.
Kemenah was a scant eight thousandths of a second off Dollansky's time. The 23
top qualifiers all rode on Hoosier tires.
In the 25-lap feature, all but one of the starters
rode on Hoosiers. The story of the night was Danny Lasoski who started 20th.
Lasoski put on a passing clinic before the stunned crowd. Amazingly, Lasoski
moved from 20th to first in just 14 laps. The former World of Outlaws champion
led the remainder of the way to capture the win. Lasoski made his amazing run
using a pair of Hoosier D10 sprint tires.
Jason Meyers (D12/D12) finished in second place
followed by Chad Kemenah (D10/D12), Kelly Kinser (D10/D10) and Jimmy Nier
(D10/D12). The first 19 drivers to cross the finish line in the night's feature
all rode on Hoosier tires.
NIGHT #4
(February 5, 2005) -- Thirty-seven cars were on hand
Saturday with the top six drivers in points for the previous three nights of
action locked into the A-Main with the remaining drivers forced to battle their
way into the 24-car field via four heat races.
In the A-main, Danny Lasoski moved from fifth
to first by the fifth lap. Lasoski led the remainder of the distance to capture
the win. Lasoski (D10/D10) was the only driver to use Hoosier's softest
compound for the 50-lap race and his calculated risk paid off in the amount of
$10,000. Craig Dollansky (D12/D20) finished in second place--two car-lengths
behind the race winner. Sammy Swindell (D15/D25) finished in third place
followed by Terry McCarl (RD15/D20) and Greg Wilson (N.A./D12).
After the race Lasoski commented, "Without the
help of Johnny Morris who heads up the Bass Pro Shop deal, Mopar, J.D. Byrider,
Wirtgen and Hoosier, we wouldn't be here." Jimmy Carr, Lasoski's crew
chief, added, "We went with a soft Hoosier, because that was the only shot
we had at winning."
With Lasoski's win, Team Hoosier has now swept the
past four year's East Bay Winternational events. As has been the case over the
years, we will see if the results enjoyed in Florida will be an indicator of
what is to come for the Hoosier brand on sprint tracks around the globe again
this year.
Our thanks to Hoosier's Dave Campbell for reporting
the details used in this report.
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