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 ROCKINGHAM,
NC (October 18-20) -- The 2002 IHRA season came to a close the past
weekend at North Carolina's Rockingham Dragway with the 7th Annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts World Finals. Team-Hoosier had eight drivers in
seven different classes make it to their respective class finals with
five coming away with wins. Those drivers making it to their class
finals were: Mitch Stott (photo), Pro Modified; Dale Brand and Mark
Thomas, Funny Car; Marco Abruzzi, NOS Top Sportsman; Brian Lampton,
Top Dragster; Bobby Brannon, Stock; Jason Lynch, Super Rod; and Cale
Lambert, Hot Rod. The five wins were the most among all competing tire
brands in the 11 classes in which Hoosier has competitors.
PRO MODIFIED
Mitch Stott, riding atop a pair of Hoosier 34.5/17.0-16 C2000 drag
tires, overcame a .506 to .484 reaction time to win the Pro
Modified class. Stott more than overcame his opponents early lead at
the halfway point and won by approximately 16 feet at the stripe.
Stott's ET was 6.253 seconds at 224.88 mph in a '63 Corvette besting
his opponent's '01 Viper. The win was Stott's third consecutive Pro
Mod win in a row.
The Hoosier brand dominated in qualifying capturing
the top six times in the Pro Mod class. At the top was #1 qualifier
Mike Janis and his 6.130 ET run at 228.77 mph.
FUNNY CAR
In Funny Car, it was two Hoosier-shod cars going head-to-head in the
finals. This was no surprise given the fact Hoosier-shod cars claimed
the top nine times in qualifying. Dale Brand was the #1 qualifier with
a 5.765 ET at 239.87 mph. Brand made it to the final round against
fellow Team-Hoosier driver Mark Thomas. Both drivers get off the line
quickly with Brand posting a .430 RT to Thomas' .438 RT. Brand then
powered his way to the win with a 5.847 ET and a speed of 235.80 mph.
Congratulations also go out to Jimmy Rector on winning
the 2002 IHRA Alcohol Funny Car World Championship. Jimmy collected an
incredible seven wins this season--all on Hoosier tires.
NOS TOP SPORTSMAN
In the NOS Top Sportsman final, Marco Abruzzi was Hoosier's only hope for a
class win. Abruzzi and his 34.5/17.0-16 C2000 drag tires didn't
disappoint as the combination bested his opponent who broke out
attempting to mount a challenge to Abruzzi and his Hoosier slicks.
TOP DRAGSTER
Hopes for another Hoosier-shod final winner rested squarely on the
shoulders of Brian Lampton in Top Dragster. Lampton came through with
a .539 RT and a 6.988 ET on a 6.95 dial for the win. Lampton was also
using the highly successful Hoosier 34.5/17.0-16 C2000 drag tires.
STOCK
In Stock, Bobby Brannon took runner-up honors in the class using
Hoosier's 30.0/9.0-15R CO7 radials.
SUPER ROD
Jason Lynch drove his Summit Racing Equipment, Mark Horton owned
Corvette to the class win. Ironically, Jason also won the Super Rod final
at the "Rock" back in March at the Holley Spring
Nationals.
HOT ROD
Cale Lambert took runner-up honors for Team-Hoosier in the Hot Rod
class final. Lambert came up just four feet short at the stripe.
Hoosier Drag Racing Product manager Faron Lubbers
attended the final IHRA event in Rockingham and had this to say,
"What a great way to cap off another successful IHRA season for
Team-Hoosier. More wins than all other tire brands is a great way to
end the season and gives us a great deal of momentum heading into next
year."
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. congratulates all the IHRA
competitors who made the 2002 season so exciting, particularly those
teams and drivers trusting USA-made Hoosier tires for their racing
edge.
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