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 POMONA,
CA (November 11-14) -- The 2004 NHRA Drag Racing Series came to a
close this past weekend with seven drivers riding on Hoosier tires
battling their way to their respective finals. The 23-race season
ended at Pomona (CA) with the 40th annual Automobile
Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. In Top Alcohol Funny Car,
where the Hoosier brand has dominated for years, both finalists rode
on Hoosier tires with Jay Payne (photo) meeting Brian Hough in the
finals. Gary Stinnett was also a final round competitor in Super
Stock, while Jody Lang was in yet another final in Stock. Jon Brazeau
was in the Super Comp final, while Ken Mostowich and Joe Roubicek made
it an all-Hoosier final in Super Gas.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Twenty-four cars began competition on Thursday until just two cars
remained for the T/A Funny Car finals. It was a pair of Hoosier-shod
cars in the finals with Jay Payne in the Valvoline Camaro meeting
Brian Hough in the Central Auto Body & Paint Firebird. Hough got
off the line first with a .064 RT to Payne's .092 RT. But Payne, using
a pair of Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C2050 drag tires, had the better ET
posting a 5.615 ET (258.62 mph) to Hough's 5.647 ET (253.14 mph) to
take the win. It was Payne's third National event win of the season on
Hoosiers.
SUPER STOCK
A huge 58-car field began qualifications on Thursday with Gary
Stinnett making it to the final round using a pair of experimental
Hoosier drag tires. Stinnett rode atop Hoosier's new 33.0/14.5R-15
Radial tires which will soon be in production based on their early
success in competition. Stinnett captured runner-up honors using the
new product after breaking out in the final contest in Super Stock.
STOCK
A field of 63 began competition in the Stock class on Thursday until
just two drivers remained on Sunday--one of them on Hoosiers. Jody
Lang was that driver. When the last race was over, Lang was the
National event winner with a .022 RT and a 12.398 ET (-0.012).
SUPER COMP
In Super Comp, 44 cars began eliminations on Friday until just two
drivers remained on Sunday. Jon Brazeau was the lone Hoosier-shod
finalist settling for runner-up honors after red lighting in the final
Super Comp race.
SUPER GAS
Ken Mostowich and Joe Roubicek were also in an all-Hoosier final in
Super Gas after 44 cars started eliminations on Friday. Mostowich took
the win when Roubicek left early from the starting line.
Congratulations to the seven members of Team Hoosier
making it all the way to their respective class finals in Pomona.
Hoosier also extends its appreciation to all the
competitors who have trusted Hoosier drag tires to carry them
throughout the season. It was an excellent finish to a great season of
NHRA racing for the Hoosier brand.
With development continuing, and more new products on
the horizon, the future looks bright for the upcoming 2005 NHRA Drag
Racing Series for competitors choosing the Hoosier brand.
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