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 CORDOVA,
IL (May 17-19) -- Eleven drivers using Hoosier tires made it to the
class finals in seven different classes at the IHRA 6th annual Amalie
Oil Nationals in Cordova, Illinois. This was the most Hoosier-shod
drivers in an IHRA National event final round so far this season. The
six class
wins by Team-Hoosier was also a season best. Drivers making it to their respective
class finals were: Jimmy Rector and Dale Brand, Funny Car; Mike Janis
and Al Billes, Pro Modified; Monte
Weaver and Bob Mandell, NOS Top Sportsman; Bob Mandell, Top Dragster;
Jay Roeder, Stock; Jok Nicholson and Jerry Mosher, Quick Rod; and
Donald Barks, Jr., Hot Rod.
FUNNY CAR
Undefeated Jimmy Rector and #1 qualifier met Dale Brand in the Funny
Car final as both drivers used Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 drag tires. Brand
set low ET of the event in the semi's with 5.78 second run (241.54 mph). In the final, Brand
got the jump at the light with a .432 RT to Rector's .486 RT. But
Rector motored past Brand at the half-way point en route to the win.
Rector's ET was 5.827 seconds (241.24 mph) to Brand's 5.906 ET (237.09
mph). This win makes Rector 3-for-3 to start the 2002 season. Team-Hoosier was in
full force in the Funny Car class with 13 of the 16 qualifiers using the
Hoosier brand.
PRO MODIFIED
With half of the 16 Pro Modified qualifiers on Hoosier tires,
chances were good a Hoosier-shod car would make it to the class
finals. When the field had been pared down to four, all four that
remained were on Hoosier tires. Mike Janis and Al Billes were the two
Team-Hoosier drivers in the Pro Modified final. Billes got the slight
edge at the light with a .477 RT to Janis' .480 RT. But Janis, the
2001 World Champion, quickly overcame the difference with a 6.208 ET
(227.31 mph) to Billes' 6.425 ET (214.35 mph) to take the win in one
of four "all-Hoosier" finals during the weekend event.
Consolation for Billes--he is currently the national points leader in
the Pro Modified class for the 2002 season.
NOS TOP SPORTSMAN
In yet another "all-Hoosier" final, Monte Weaver met Bob
Mandell in the NOS Top Sportsman final. Mandell had the better light
but lost at the line after breaking out by a mere -.001 seconds giving
Weaver the win. Both finalists were riding aboard a pair of Hoosier
34.5/17.0-16 C2000 drag tires.
ANNIHILATOR TOP DRAGSTER
Bob Mandell also made it to the class finals in Annihilator Top
Dragster. This time, he came away with the victory as his opponent
broke and was unable to make the final. Mandell used a pair of
34.5/17.0-16 drag tires en route to the class win.
STOCK
Jay Roeder took the class win in Stock after his opponent broke
out. Roeder used Hoosier's 30.0/9.0-15R C07 radial drag tire.
QUICK ROD
In another Hoosier vs. Hoosier clash, Jok Nicholson met Jerry Mosher
in the Quick Rod final. Both drivers were quick at the light with
Nicholson posting a perfect .400 RT. Mosher however red lighted with a
.399 RT handing the win to Nicholson. Nicholson used a pair of Hoosier's 33.0/16.5-15S C07 drag tires.
RUNNER-UP FINISHES
Donald Barks, Jr. took runner-up honors in Hot Rod after he broke out
in the class finals.
Congratulations to all the teams, drivers and fans
who were instrumental in Team-Hoosier's best weekend performance to
date in the
2002 IHRA season.
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