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 KENT,
WA (July 18-20) -- Team-Hoosier made history at the 16th annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Kent, WA over the weekend with
nine drivers making it into their respective class finals in the eight
classes in which Hoosier has a presence. Not only was history made
with nine Hoosier-shod drivers making it to the final round, but when
six Hoosier-shod drivers came away with wins, that too was another
history-making accomplishment. The nine Hoosier-shod finalists total
was one better than the eight finalists Team-Hoosier enjoyed at Las
Vegas in early April. Drivers making it to the finals included; Mike
Cofini in Top Alcohol Dragster, Steve Gasparrelli and Bucky Austin in
Top Alcohol Funny Car, David Rampy in Comp Eliminator, Kyle Seipel in
Super Stock, Steve Williams and Rodney Souza in Super Comp, Larry
Scarth in Super Gas and Gary Thompson in Super Street. Team-Hoosier
and the NHRA Series will next travel to Sonoma, CA for the 16th annual
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals where they will look to improve on this
past week's historical performance.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Mike Cofini had to settle for runner-up honors in the T/A Dragster
class when he lost his blower belt during the middle of his final
round contest. Congratulations go out to Mike for making it to his
first-ever national event final.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
In T/A Funny Car, a pair of Hoosier-shod drivers assured the
Hoosier brand another national event win with Steve Gasparrelli
meeting Bucky Austin in the finals. With both drivers in Firebirds,
Austin gets the slight edge at the light with a .086 RT to
Gasparrelli's .094 RT. But Gasparrelli posted the better ET with a
5.702 ET (250.97 mph) to Austin's 5.725 ET (247.75 mph) to take the
win.
COMP ELIMINATOR
The amazing season for David Rampy continues with the Comp Eliminator
driver making it to his eighth final and coming away with his seventh
national event win of the season--that's right, of the season. Rampy
used Hoosier's 33.0/12.0-15 C10 drag tires in claiming his 52nd
national event win of his career.
SUPER STOCK
Kyle Seipel captured his 6th career national event win when his
opponent red lighted facing Seipel and his Hoosier 14.5/32.0-15L C07
drag tires in the Super Stock final. It was Seipel's 11th final round
appearance of his career.
SUPER COMP
With a pair of Hoosier-shod drivers in the Super Comp final it was
guaranteed to be close and Steve Williams and Rodney Souza did not
disappoint. Both drivers got off the line in a hurry with Williams
cutting the tree at .005 RT to Suoza's .019 RT. The two then posted
very close ET's with Williams posting an 8.911 ET to Souza's 8.904 ET
on the 8.90 index. Williams' package was an amazing .016 to Souza's
awesome .023 package. Williams captured his first national event win
by .0078 seconds or about 24 inches. Congratulations to both drivers
on their exciting final round performances.
SUPER GAS
Larry Scarth won his second Super Gas final of the season when his
opponent red lighted in the final round. Scarth's winning run was with
a .018 RT and a 9.908 ET on the 9.90 index.
SUPER STREET
Gary Thompson won the Super Street final with a .027 RT and a 10.897
ET on the 10.90 index. With both drivers breaking out, Thompson took
the win as the lesser offender -.003 to -.026. It was Thompson's third
national event final and third national event win.
Ironically, even though Hoosier was well represented, the historic event was not attended by
either of Hoosier's Drag Racing Product Managers, Faron Lubbers and
Steve Hudspeth. We're not sure what that means, but we thought it
interesting, or at least funny.
The NHRA Series will next travel to Sonoma, CA for the
16th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals on August 1-3.
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