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 READING,
PA (October 8-10) -- The Hoosier brand was once again the brand to
beat in the 20th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove
Raceway in Reading, PA over the weekend. Hoosier tires carried six
drivers into their respective class finals in the six Sportsman
divisions with three coming away winners. The six finalists and three
wins by Team Hoosier were more than any other tire brand in the
Sportsman classes. In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Frank Manzo (left in
photo) was looking for his 56th National event win. In Comp
Eliminator, Tony Stephenson was looking to give Team Hoosier its fifth
National event win of the season in the class. Bob Letellier was also
a finalist in Super Stock, while Brian Van Poppel carried the Hoosier
banner in the Stock final. Team Hoosier had a guaranteed winner in
Super Gas with both Bob Phillips and George Stack riding on Hoosier
drag slicks.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
In a classic Firebird versus Camaro match up, Frank Manzo piloted his
Kendall Motor Oil Firebird into the finals against arch rival Bob
Newberry who runs another tire brand. The Hoosier-shod Manzo had a
14-3 record against his rival in final round action. Manzo, who
qualified #1 (5.580 ET), nailed the light with an amazing .001 RT on
his Hoosier slicks. Manzo coupled the "hole shot" with a
5.560 ET (260.41 mph) to claim his 56th National event win tying David
Rampy (who also uses Hoosier tires) for seventh on the all-time win
list. Manzo was the picture of consistency throughout the weekend
running in the 5.50's in every race. He also had low ET (5.529) and
top speed (261.02 mph) in the class as well.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Hoosier-shod Tony Stephenson was in the Comp Eliminator finals. He was
looking to give Team Hoosier its fifth National event win of the
season in the class. Stephenson did not disappoint with a .022 RT he
got the jump on his opponent at the light. Stephenson crossed the line
first for the win with an ET of 8.053 seconds (final round index:
8.58)--an amazing -.727 under his original 8.78 index.
SUPER STOCK
Bob Letellier settled for runner-up honors in Super Stock when he
broke out in the final race.
STOCK
Brian Van Poppel also settled for runner-up honors in the Stock final
coming up just 14" short at the line.
SUPER GAS
A third Team Hoosier win at Reading was a lock when both finalists in
Super Gas rode on Hoosier tires. Bob Phillips and George Stack were
the two drivers looking for a National event win. Both drivers got off
the line well with Phillips getting a slight edge with a .028 RT to
Stack's .038 RT. Phillips took the win by an amazing 14/10,000ths of a
second. Phillips' ET was 9.918 (.018), while Stack's was 9.909 (.009)
on a 9.90 index.
Just two events remain on the 2004 NHRA Drag Racing
Series schedule. The 4th annual ACDelco
Las Vegas NHRA Nationals in three weeks (October 28-31) is next on the
NHRA schedule.
Congratulations to all the teams and drivers who
trusted the Hoosier brand during the 20th annual Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals.
All NHRA events are serviced out of Hoosier
headquarters in Lakeville, IN. Feel free to stop by the Hoosier
trailer and speak to Track Service Manager John Adamo about the
Hoosier drag tire line.
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