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 JOLIET,
IL (May 29 - June 1) -- While the two alcohol classes which Hoosier
tires typically dominate were not in action at the 6th annual Lucas
Oil NHRA Route 66 Nationals this past weekend, Team-Hoosier still
battled its way into three class finals. When it was all over, the
Hoosier brand had three national titles in the three class finals in
which they were participating. A total of five Hoosier-shod drivers
fought their way to their respective class finals. Fred Hahn was in
the Pro Mod class final, while it was an all-Hoosier final in Super
Comp with Gary Stinnett meeting Rock Haas. Finally, another
Hoosier-vs.-Hoosier final was at hand in Super Gas when Jim Hughes met
Butch Kleewein in the finals.
PRO MOD
All hope for a Team-Hoosier national win in Pro Mod rested on the
shoulders of #1 qualifier Fred Hahn and his Hoosier 34.5/17.0-16 C2000
drag tires. In earlier qualifying, Hahn earned the #1 qualifier status
after his 6.128 second run (230.76 mph). But just because you were the
fastest in qualifying doesn't necessarily mean a final round win. But
Hahn didn't disappoint as this contest was over early when his
opponent made a sharp move toward the centerline and had to shut his
motor down handing the win to Hahn and his '02Summit Racing Corvette.
With the win, Hahn now takes over the AMS Staff Leasing points lead.
SUPER COMP
The fact that Gary Stinnett and Rock Haas were meeting in the Super
Comp final assured Team-Hoosier another national event win since both
drivers ride on Hoosier's 33.0/16.5S-15 C07 drag tires. This one was
over early however, when Haas, making his first final round
appearance, red lighted giving the win to Stinnett who impressively
had a run of 8.901 ET on an 8.90 index for a .001 difference. For
Stinnett, it was his 11th national event win.
SUPER GAS
In Super Gas, it was two more Hoosier-shod rides going head-to-head to
determine the winner. With both drivers using a pair of Hoosier
33.0/16.0-15 C07 drag tires, it was last year's Super Comp World
Champion Jim Hughes meeting Butch Kleewein, who was making his first
national event final round appearance. Hughes came into the final
round having been to 17 national event final round appearances and 11
national event wins. Both drivers got off the line quickly with Hughes
gaining the slight advantage with a .017 RT to Kleewein's .037 RT.
With both drivers on a 9.90 index, it was Hughes recording a 9.914 ET
(.014) to Kleewein's 9.904 ET (.004) and crossing the finish line
approximately two feet ahead of Kleewein to capture his 12th national
event win. Jim Hughes, who races in a Corvette, is the President of
Hughes Performance, a manufacturer of performance converters and
transmissions in Phoenix, AZ.
Despite not having the Alcohol classes in competition,
Team-Hoosier still posted an impressive performance sending five
drivers into three class finals and coming away with three national
event wins.
A huge Hoosier Racing Tire contingent made the trip
from Indiana west to Joliet (IL) which included Hoosier Product
Managers Faron Lubbers and Steve Hudspeth, Engineering Manager John
DeSalle, Hoosier Sales Manager Paul Menting. Also in attendance was
John Adamo who provides track service at all NHRA events for Hoosier Racing
Tire Corp.
The NHRA Series will take a week off before returning
to action on June 12th in Columbus, OH for the 39th annual Pontiac Excitement
NHRA Nationals.
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