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 LAKEVILLE,
IN (October 24, 2001) -- Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. and NASCAR have
entered into an agreement which has the Indiana-based tire
manufacturer tapped as the "exclusive tire supplier" to the
NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series through the 2004 season.
Hoosier
Racing Tire Corp. was actually the "unofficial" tire supplier to the
series during the 2001 season, as no other tire company elected to
provide tires to the series competitors. The
"official" announcement of the 3-year pact comes just as the
popular east coast series completed it's final event at Thompson
International Speedway on Sunday, October 21. The last race was
the setting for the culmination of a season-long battle between three
drivers for the series championship as Mike Stefanik, Jerry
Marquis and John Blewett, III would finally settle who would wear the
2001 series crown. Mike Stefanik's second place finish at
Thompson earned him the 2001 championship with 2993 points. Jerry
Marquis captured runner-up honors with 2968 points, as John Blewett,
III took third with 2891 points, in one of the most exciting points
battle ever. This also marked the second consecutive year a
Hoosier-shod driver would claim the series title, as Jerry Marquis won
the 2000 NASCAR Featherlite Modified championship while riding on
USA-made Hoosier tires. The highly competitive season had 10 different race
winners in 20 events, as four drivers tied with three wins apiece for
most wins. Tony Hirschman, Mike Stefanik, Jerry Marquis
and Mike Ewanitsko each won three events during the 2001 season. Hoosier Modified Tire Product Manager, Irish Saunders,
commented on the 3-year agreement, "It has been an extremely
successful season, 10 different winners in 20 events, with three
drivers battling it out in the series' final race to determine the
champion, only in NASCAR and only in America could this happen!" Saunders continued, "This season, Hoosier got an
opportunity to showcase the kind of safe, consistent and competitive tires
we have available. I think NASCAR recognized this, as did the
competitors." Saunders added, "With the long term
deal, we will also be able to provide tires to all the competitors at
significantly less cost than this year. Tires will sell for $140 per
tire, regardless of size or position on the car, and Bobby Summers and
the entire Hoosier Tire East organization will also continue to
provide tires and track service to the many teams competing in the
series." Hoosier President and CEO, Bob Newton, added,
"This season was somewhat of a test for us in the series, a test
I am pleased to say we passed with flying colors." Newton
continued, "All the work our entire organization put into this
year's effort was rewarded by way of this long term agreement." Operating
as the oldest division of race cars in the history of NASCAR, the
Featherlite Modified Series is the only open-wheeled series in the
NASCAR Touring Division. NASCAR established the current touring format
in 1985, after Modified race cars became the feature attraction at
many race tracks throughout the Northeast. All
Hoosier tires are proudly "Made in the USA". To learn more
about Hoosier and the products they offer, visit www.hoosiertire.com. |
