|
 ROCKINGHAM,
NC (March 22-24) -- The Hooters IHRA season kicked off at Rockingham
Dragway with eight drivers on Hoosier tires making it to the final
round of the 32nd annual Holly Spring Nationals. Those drivers making
it to their respective class finals were: Al Billes (Pro Modified),
Jimmy Rector and Mark Thomas (Funny Car), Mark Brown (NOS Top
Sportsman), Mark Buchanan (Modified), Mike Shelton (Quick Rod), Jason
Lynch (G Super Rod), and Steve Corker (Hot Rod).
MOPAR PARTS PRO
MODIFIED
Al Billes avoided the tire shake experienced by his adversary to
capture the Mopar Parts Pro Modified title in his '53 Studebaker.
Billes used Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C06 C2000 drag tire to capture the
victory. Billes posted a .480 RT and a 6.324 ET (222.00 mph) to take
the win. The class had 12 of 16 qualifiers on Hoosier rubber.
Hoosier-shod Tim McAmis was the #1 qualifier at 6.114 seconds (228.92
mph). FUNNY CAR
Hoosier-shod drivers Jimmy Rector and Mark Thomas met in
the Funny Car final. Rector took the win after Thomas red lighted.
Rector was clocked at a 5.895 ET or 237.63 mph. The win was Rector's
11th national event win. Both drivers used Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C06
C2000 drag tires. Hoosier tires were used by the top seven qualifiers
and 12 of the 16 qualifiers. Dale Brand was the #1 qualifier at 5.737
seconds at 240.98 mph. DOMINATOR QUICK ROD
Mike Shelton took the win in Dominator Quick Rod aboard a pair of
Hoosier 33.0/16.5-15S C07 drag tires. HOLLY TEAM G SUPER
ROD
Jason Lynch and his Summit sponsored Firebird came out on top in
the G Super Rod class. Lynch and his 33.0/16.0-15 C07 Hoosier drag
tires captured the victory after both drivers broke out with Lynch,
the lesser offender, taking the win. WEIAND HOT ROD
Steve Corker captured the final round win in Weiand Hot Rod after
his opponent broke out. Corker used Hoosier's 32.0/14.5-15W D05 drag
tires to take the win. RUNNER-UP FINISHERS
Mark Buchanan (Hooker Modified) and Mark Brown (NOS Top Sportsman)
took runner-up honors in their respective class finals for
Team-Hoosier. Both of Hoosier's drag racing product managers, Faron
Lubbers and Steve Hudspeth, attended the season opening IHRA event in
North Carolina to monitor the early season performance of the Hoosier
drag tire line-up. Lubbers commented, "It was a great
start to the season for teams using Hoosier tires." Lubbers
added, "We were able to talk to a lot of teams and drivers during
the event, which allows us to make sure we are giving the customers
what they need to be competitive week in and week out." The
next IHRA event is the 2nd annual ACDelco Nationals April 18-21 at
Virginia Motorsports Park. |
