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 Al
Billes, using Hoosier's new 34.5/17.0-16 C2050 drag tire, was looking
to take over the points lead in the Pro Modified class if he was able
to defeat his opponent in the finals. Billes did just that with a .061
RT and a 6.460 ET (225.11 mph) run while his opponent was only able to
clock a speed of 164.91 mph after experiencing severe tire shake.
Billes took the "Iron Man" trophy in the supercharged Quaker
State '53 Corvette as Hoosier Drag Racing Product Manager Steve
Hudspeth looked on.
FUNNY CAR
Surprisingly, it was the only Hoosier vs. Hoosier final of the event
with Rob Atchison in the Erickson Firebird meeting Mark Thomas in the
Ethanol Performs Avenger in the Funny Car finals (top photo). The two
drivers were the top qualifiers for the event both using Hoosier's
34.5/17.01-6 C2000 drag tires. Atchison, last year's Funny Car
Champion, got off the line first with a .054 RT to Thomas' .071 RT.
Atchison backed up the light with a 5.950 ET to Thomas' 5.957 ET en
route to capturing the win. It was Atchison's first win of the year.
Despite the win, Atchison still trails Thomas in the Funny Car points
chase and despite the runner-up finish, Mark Thomas actually set the
track speed record of 241.32 mph in the final race.
TOP SPORTSMAN
In Top Sportsman, Michigan driver Jackie Slone was lightning fast off
the line with a near perfect .002 RT. Slone, driving a Corvette,
backed up the light with a 7.052 ET (7.03 dial) for an overall package
of .022 to claim the win. Slone crossed the finish line ahead of his
opponent by an estimated nine feet using Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C2000
drag tires. At the beginning of the event, there were 59 competitors
in the Top Sportsman class eventually won by Jackie Slone on Hoosier
tires.
TOP DRAGSTER
There were 55 cars when competition began in the Top Alcohol Dragster
class. Nick Folk, the current Top Dragster World Champion, captured
the win using Hoosier's 33.5/17.0-16 C06 drag tires. Folk was the
beneficiary when his opponent broke out in the finals handing him the
win.
QUICK ROD
Dennis Kline took home runner-up honors in Quick Rod. The event drew a
huge 73-car field for the Quick Rod class.
SUPER ROD
Brian Folk captured the Super Rod win with a .035 RT and a 9.890 ET
(9.90 index) in a double breakout final. Coupled with the Top Dragster
win by Nick Folk, the Folk family took home two "Iron Men"
from Milan.
TOP STOCK
Matt Morgan took home runner-up honors in Top Stock giving Team
Hoosier claim to five wins and three runner-up finishes during the
weekend of competition at Milan Dragway.
Hoosier Drag Racing Product Manager Steve Hudspeth
attended the Motor City Nationals and commented, "With the
overall number of cars participating in the event, we were very
pleased with the five victories and three runner-up finishes. We look
to build on the success we (Team Hoosier) enjoyed as we head toward
the Canadian Nationals coming up at the end of the month."
The 3rd annual ACDelco Canadian Nationals is the next
event on the 2004 IHRA Series 12-event schedule. Competition will
begin on Friday, July 30th, and conclude on August 1st.
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MILAN,
MI (July 16-18) -- Team Hoosier completed another successful weekend
of racing in the IHRA Series with eight drivers battling their way to
their respective class finals at Michigan's Milan Dragway in the 2nd
annual Motor City Nationals. In Pro Modified, Al Billes carried the
Hoosier banner into the final clash, while in Funny Car it was an
all-Hoosier final (photo) with Rob Atchison in the Erickson Firebird
meeting Mark Thomas in the Ethanol Performs Avenger. In Top Sportsman,
Jackie Slone was a finalist and in Top Dragster Nick Folk was in the
finals. Dennis Kline was a finalist in Quick Rod as was Brian Folk in
Super Rod. In Top Stock, Matt Morgan also rode his way to the finals
on Hoosier tires. When the final race was over five drivers claimed
wins with three drivers taking home runner-up honors.