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 TOPEKA,
KS (May 22-25) -- For the second consecutive event in the NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Hoosier brand carried six drivers
into the final round of racing. When it was all over, Team-Hoosier had
four drivers heading home with National event wins--the most of any
tire maker in the eight Sportsman classes. Marc White and Cy
Chesterman met in an all-Hoosier final in Top Alcohol Funny Car, while
David Rampy again made it to the final round in Comp Eliminator. Going
into the event, Rampy had three National event wins and one runner-up
finish this season. In Super Stock, Jeff Hefler was looking to take
home his 21st National event win. John Steffen made it to the final
round in Super Gas, while Chet Vandewater did the same in Super
Street. When the final 1/4-mile race had been contested, the Hoosier
brand stood atop the manufacturer's leaderboard with more Sportsman
wins than any other competing tire brand.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
The T/A Funny Car class featured the only Hoosier-vs.-Hoosier final
when Marc White in his Bar's Leaks Firebird met Cy Chesterman in his
Coca-Cola Trans Am. Both drivers compete using Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16
C2000 drag tires. This one was over early when Chesterman's engine
fell silent just after the light went green giving White the win.
White's times were a .059 RT with a 5.676 ET (253.28 mph). The win was
White's first National event win of the season.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Team-Hoosier's hopes of yet another Comp Eliminator win rested on the
shoulders of David Rampy and his recently introduced Hoosier
33.0/12.0-15 C10 drag tires. Rampy has been hot this season having
three national event wins and one runner-up finish in 2003. He was shooting
for his third consecutive win in the class. Rampy had a near perfect
light at .002 RT coupled with a 7.636 ET (8.03 index) for a time of
-.0394 compared to his opponent's .136 RT and an 8.504 ET (8.98 index)
for a -.476 time in the Over/Under column. With both drivers under
their indexes, Rampy took the win after "peddling" the
throttle because of his huge starting line advantage. The win was
Rampy's third National win in a row and fourth overall this season.
David Rampy also had a runner-up finish to his credit this year. This
victory now brings Rampy's amazing career total to 49 National
wins.
SUPER STOCK
Jeff Hefler and his Hoosier 14.5/33.0-15L C07 drag tires were in the
final round in Super Stock. This one was over early when his opponent
jumped the start light hoping to gain an advantage over Hefler's
Hoosier-shod ride. The ploy backfired handing Helfer his 21st National
event win.
SUPER GAS
Colorado's John Steffen carried the Hoosier banner into the final
round in Super Gas in his '02 Corvette. This one was over early as
well. Steffen's adversary red lighted handing the Steffen his first
ever national event win.
SUPER STREET
In Super Street, Chet Vandewater settled for runner-up honors
after missing a perfect run by a mere .002 of a second. Vandewater was
looking for his second National event win of his career.
Special thanks go out to Hoosier Drag Racing Product
Manager Steve Hudspeth who attended the event and provided the details
for this report.
The NHRA Series gets right back at it this weekend in
Chicago for the 6th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Route 66 Nationals.
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