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HOOSIER DOMINATES
NHRA ELIMINATIONS AT HOUSTON
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4-04-08
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 BAYTOWN,
TX (March 28-30, 2008) -- In the words of Hoosier drag racing product manager Faron
Lubbers, "It was the best final rounds we have ever experienced."
Lubbers was referring to the results drivers using Hoosier tires had at the
O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Drivers using Hoosier
tires were in six of the seven classes that Hoosier actively participates in
the NHRA. When the smoke cleared, there were six Hoosier-shod drivers holding
the winner's trophy including; Joe Baker (Pro Mod--photo), Jay Payne (T/A Funny
Car), Pete Peery (Super Stock), Bob Unkefrer (Stock), Shawn Langdon (Super
Comp) and Jimmy Lewis (Super Gas).
PRO MOD
In the Pro Mod class, eight of the 16 qualifiers competed on Hoosier tires with
Josh Hernandez earning the earning the No. 1 qualifier spot on the
Indiana-based tire brand.
The Pro Mod final was one of five finals in which both drivers used
Hoosier tires. Joe Baker, in his Howard Moon tuned '63 Corvette, met Tony
Pontieri driving a '57 Chevy in the Pro Mod final. Baker was first off the line
with a .042 second reaction time to Pontieri's .052. Baker took the win with a
time of 6.022 (239.19 mph) to Pontieri's 6.048 (237.42 mph).
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TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
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 In
TAFC, 10 of the 16 qualifiers rode on Hoosier tires. In the finals, it
was another pair of Hoosier-shod drivers squaring off. No. 1 qualifier
Jay Payne (near lane) was looking to avenge last year's first round
loss to Mickey Ferro.
It was Payne's 28th final round appearance, while
Ferro was making his third TAFC final. Ferro had won in both his
two previous appearances.
Ferro got off the starting line first with a .019 RT
to Payne's .037 RT. But Payne would make up the difference after Ferro
had to shut down early. Payne recorded a 5.626 ET (256.41 mph) to
notch his 18th TAFC win.
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SUPER STOCK
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 In
Super Stock, 50 cars entered qualifying with Scotty Richardson meeting
Pete Peery (far lane) in yet another Hoosier-vs-Hoosier final.
Peery took the win in this battle after Richardson red
lighted by .001 of a second. It was Peery's first Super Stock
final round win.
Peery took the win using a pair of Hoosier's
32.0/13.5R-15 C06 drag radials.
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STOCK ELIMINATOR
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 In
the Stock Eliminator class, 59 drivers battled it out until two were
left. Those two were drivers on Hoosier's that had never before been
in an NHRA final.
Bob Unkefer (near lane) and Austin Ford met in the
final race. Ford red lighted handing the win to Unkefer who posted a
nearly flawless run. Unkefer's reaction time was .001 with an ET on
11.402 on an 11.40 dial.
Both competitors used a pair of Hoosier 30.0/9.0R-15
drag radials to make it to the class finals.
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SUPER COMP
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 Seventy-six
cars began eliminations in the Super Comp class at Houston Raceway
Park before the field had been narrowed to just two. Shawn Langdon and
Kurt Damron, Jr. were finalists both using Hoosier tires.
Langdon had the better reaction with a .014 RT to
Damron's .028 RT. The race had both drivers breaking out (running
lower than the 8.90 index), but Langdon was the lesser offender at
8.891 seconds (-.019).
Langdon, the current world champion, was racing on a
pair of Hoosier 33.5/17.0-16 C06 drag slicks.
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SUPER GAS
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 Fifty-eight
cars competed in Super Gas and this was the only final that would not
boast two Hoosier-shod finalists. So, the pressure was on Jimmy Lewis
to keep the stellar weekend going for Team Hoosier.
Lewis, the 1998 Super Gas champion, did not disappoint. He had a
.026 RT and a 9.929 ET (9.90 index) to claim the win with a .029
package.
Hoosier wishes to thank all the competitors who trusted the Hoosier
brand during the 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, as well
as, congratulate all the finalists.
To learn more about Hoosier drag tires contact your
nearest Hoosier Distributor or stop by the Hoosier trailer at the next
NHRA event.
For more information about the NHRA Series visit www.nhra.com.
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Copyright ©
2008 Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.
All rights reserved.
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.
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