|
 CHANDLER,
AZ (February 21-24) -- Four NHRA drivers riding Hoosier tires rocketed
to the final round of the 18th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen
Nationals in Arizona over the weekend with three of them going home
with their class title. The event was contested without the Top
Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes competing which are classes in
which Hoosier tires have dominated taking 40 of the 48 National wins
last season. Those Hoosier-shod drivers making it to the final round
of their classes were: Eddie Olpin in Super Comp, Michael Miller and
Jesse Serna in Super Gas, and Chet Vandewater in Super Street.
SUPER
COMP
Hoosier-shod Eddie Olpin used a .431 RT to his competition's .432 RT
to get the jump at the light. Olpin then posted an 8.910 ET (8.90
index) to his opponent's 8.943 ET to take the win. SUPER
GAS
In the only Hoosier vs. Hoosier final of the weekend, it was Michael
Miller lining up against Jesse Serna in the Super Gas final-- and was
this one ever close. Miller had a .413 RT to Serna's .414 RT to garner
the slight edge at the light. In a testament to the consistency of
their Hoosier rubber, both drivers proceeded to post ET's within one
thousandth of a second of each other in a double breakout. Miller's
9.879 ET (9.90 index) was under the index by less than Serna who
posted an 9.878 ET. This one could have gone either way, but this time
it was Miller (-.021) taking the win over Serna (.-022) by the
slimmest of margins. SUPER STREET
In the Super Street final, Chet Vandewater was the sole Hoosier
car in the class finals. This one was over early when Vandewater's
opponent left early and red lighted giving Chet the win. Hoosier
Drag Racing Product Manager Faron Lubbers commented on the weekend,
"Considering we (Team-Hoosier) came away with three (of six)
class titles when the two classes we dominate in were not even
contested, I'd say it was a very good weekend for us overall heading
into Gainesville." So, for the second National Event in a row,
Team-Hoosier captures three class titles. The circuit now travels to
Gainesville, FL for the 33rd annual Mac Tools Gatornationals March
14-17. |
