 MORRISON,
CO (July 19-22) -- The latest stop on the NHRA circuit was at the 22nd
annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
The event finals had five Hoosier-shod competitors looking to take
home top honors in their respective classes. It was an
"all-Hoosier" final in Federal-Mogul Dragster once again, as
Shelly Howard met Billy Bybee to determine the overall class winner.
Jay Payne made it to the final round in Federal-Mogul Funny Car
action, while Gary Stinnett was in the Super Comp final and Fred
Jaramillo made it to the final round in Super Gas competition.
FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
It was another "all-Hoosier" final round in
Federal-Mogul Dragster competition, as #1 qualifier, Shelly Howard and
Billy Bybee squared off to determine a winner. But that was to be
expected as every Federal-Mogul Dragster competitor at this year's
Mile-High Nationals was on the Hoosier brand of tires.
It was Bybee getting the jump at the light with a .480 RT to
Howard's .547 RT. But Howard was able to chase Bybee down with a 5.704
ET (249.58 mph) to Bybee's 5.823 ET (250.23 mph) to take the win. This
was Howard's second national win of the season on the Hoosier brand,
as both drivers were using Hoosier's 34.5/17.0-16 C06 drag tire.
FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR
It wouldn't be so easy to crown a Hoosier-shod champion in
Federal-Mogul Funny Car competition as only one of the two contestants
would be on the USA-made Hoosier brand. Top qualifier, Jay Payne, in
his Valvoline '01 Chevy Camaro, got the jump at the light with a .463
RT to his competitor's .470 RT. Payne went on to blister the track
with a 6.085 ET (234.37 mph) to his competition's 8.798 ET (105.32
mph) to take the win after the runner-up had to lift to avoid crossing
the centerline.
The win was Jay Payne's third national event victory of the 2001
campaign. Earlier in the 2nd round, Payne cut one of his Hoosier drag
slicks and while it was not leaking, it was decided to attempt to
change the suspect tire for safety reasons. The Hoosier track service
crew, led by Hoosier track service manager, John Adamo, jumped into
action. The Hoosier team was able to have both tires changed and
balanced in less than 25 minutes and enabled Payne to make the call to
the line for his semi-final race with Tate Branch.
SUPER GAS
In Super Gas, all hopes rested on Fred Jaramillo to determine
whether their would be a third, class winner on Hoosier tires at
this year's Mile-High Nationals. Jaramillo would not disappoint, as
his competitor red lighted giving the driver his first ever NHRA
national event win.
Gary Stinnett made it to the final round in Super Comp class. But
it wasn't to be this time as Stinnett had to settle for the runner-up
spot, after coming up 13 feet short for the win.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. would like to congratulate all the
competitors at this year's Mile-High Nationals, particularly those who
selected the Hoosier brand to compete on.
Kent, Washington is the next stop for the NHRA circuit for the 14th
annual Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals, July 27-29. |
