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 TOPEKA,
KS (May 27-30) -- Team Hoosier had another impressive NHRA outing over
the holiday weekend with five drivers fighting their way to their
respective class finals at the 16th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer
Nationals. When the smoke had settled, the Hoosier brand was on more
Sportsman winners than all other competing tire brands. In Top Alcohol
Funny Car, Paul Lee (photo) and Kevin Richardson met in the final
round. Since both drivers use Hoosier tires, it would be Team
Hoosier's fifth consecutive National event win in the class dominated
by the Hoosier brand over the past several seasons. In Super Comp, Rod
Fuller carried the purple Hoosier banner into the final round, while
Jimmy Lewis did the same in Super Gas. In Super Street, Dan Carter
battled his way into the final round using the Hoosier brand. In the
end, Team Hoosier claimed three National wins, while two other
competing tire manufacturers claimed two apiece.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
It was two Firebird's on Hoosier tires making it to the finals in T/A
Funny Car with Paul Lee meeting Kevin Richardson. Lee was looking for
his second consecutive National event win as both drivers rode atop
Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C2000 drag tires. Lee, in the Allied Machine
& Equipment Firebird, got off the line first with a .054 RT to
Richardson's .096 RT in the Doc's Holiday Firebird. Lee maintained the
advantage posting a 5.698 ET (253.18 mph) to Richardson's 5.817 ET
(252.90 mph) to take the win. Amazingly, the pair ran their quickest
passes of the weekend in the class finals.
SUPER COMP
In the Super Comp final, Rod Fuller had his work cut out for him
facing the 1984 Super Comp champion. But Fuller had a few things going
for him as well--like having won the last 10 times he appeared in the
final round and that he was the only driver in the final contest on
Hoosier tires. The road to the win didn't get any easier when Fuller's
opponent had a perfect reaction time (.000). But that didn't phase
Fuller who defeated his adversary with a stellar 8.907 ET (.007) to
his opponent's 8.919 ET (.019). The margin of victory for Fuller was
by an estimated 1 inch at the line.
SUPER GAS
Jimmy Lewis was the Team Hoosier representative in the Super Gas final
which rewards the consistency of both car and driver. Once again, things
looked bleak when his opponent posted a perfect .000 RT at the tree.
But once again, Lewis and his Hoosier rubber took the win in a double
break-out final with a 9.880 ET (-.020) to his adversary's 9.872 ET
(-.028).
SUPER STREET
Dan Carter fought his way to the finals in Super Street coming away
with runner-up honors. He fell approximately three feet short of
victory in the last round.
The final tally had Team Hoosier claiming three
National event wins in the Sportsman classes at the 16th annual
O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals--one better than any other tire
manufacturer during the event.
Hoosier Drag Racing Product Manager Steve Hudspeth
attended the 16th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals and reported
many of the details used in this report.
The NHRA Series will be back in action after a weekend
off with the series traveling to Columbus, OH for the 40th annual
Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals, June 10-13.
Feel free to visit the Hoosier service trailer which
attends every NHRA event and speak to Hoosier's NHRA Track Service
Manager John Adamo who can help you determine which Hoosier drag
racing tire is right for your application.
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