HOFFMAN WINS FINAL RE/MAX RACE OF 2001
AS STEVE CARLSON TAKES THE SERIES CROWN

10-30-2001

ROCKFORD, IL (October 27) -- Eddie Hoffman won the final NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge race of 2001, winning the 36th Annual EDC Water Treatment 400, at Rockford Speedway Saturday afternoon. The win was Hoffman's third of the season. While in most races, the finish determines the winner, in this race, the start determined the champion, as Steve Carlson captured his seventh NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series title simply by taking the green flag. Carlson, the defending series champion, also tied Dick Trickle for the most career titles in the series. Carlson won eight of the 18 events during the season, while the nearest competitor to the #66 Phillips 66/Trop Artic Chevrolet driver in wins, was Brian Hoppe with four wins. Hoppe had battled Carlson the entire year for the championship before the Rockford race ended his title hopes.

A 25-car field took the checkered flag on the 1/4-mile high banks of Rockford Speedway. Ron Breese, Jr. won the Bud Pole Award after circling the track in 13.541 seconds for an average speed of 77.543 mph. The series redraw would have Breese starting in 12th. The front row consisted of Jason Schuler on the pole with Steve Carlson alongside. 

Schuler took advantage of his inside starting position to jump to the early race lead when the green flag dropped. But, on lap nine, Carlson found his way into the race lead where he would stay until lap 124, when 1999 series champion, Brian Hoppe, took over the lead. Hoppe's lead would be brief however, as Scott Hansen moved into the lead which he held until lap 218, when J.R. Roahrig moved into position to take over the race lead. 

Ron Breese, Jr., and his Bud Pole Award winning EWT, INC/Honeywell Chevrolet #01, took over the lead on lap 233, and looked to be on his way to the 400-lap victory when, with 75 laps to go, the DeKalb, Illinois driver lost his brakes. 

Despite his ailing ride, Breese skillfully maintained the race lead until lap 366, when Eddie Hoffman, in the Lisa Thomas Salon Chevrolet #8, made the pass for the lead. Hoffman led the remainder of the race, despite a late race caution which bunched the field and extended the race to 405 laps. 
   

Hoffman pocketed $9050 for the win, while Steve Carlson, who had collected seven straight wins at Rockford, "settled" for a runner-up finish. Carlson earned $6,275 for his finish. Ironically, Brian Hoppe finished behind Carlson, as he did in the final series points standings. Hoppe's take for third place was $4,125 in the Gildan Activewear Chevrolet.

Rounding out the top five was young Paul Menard in fourth and Ryan Hansen in fifth, as eight drivers finished on the lead lap of the 405-lap marathon. Ron Breese, Jr., despite having no brakes, wound up a respectable sixth, while Justin Diercks was seventh and Jeff Kendall eighth.

With the 2001 season schedule complete, the NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series crowned Steve Carlson it's champion for a record-tying seventh time. Carlson completes the 2001 campaign with 3081 points, but even more amazing was his season long consistency. In 18 races, Carlson had 17 top five finishes and finished in the top ten in all 18 events.

Brian Hoppe finished in second place in the point standings with 2902 points, collecting 4 wins, 13 top fives and 17 top ten finishes. Ron Breese, Jr. wound up in third place with 2659 points.

Hoosier oval track product manager, Terry Newton commented, "It was a great season of competition in the RE/MAX Series, while early on it looked as though Steve was going to run away with it, winning the first three races, Brian Hoppe and Ron Breese, Jr. really made it a battle for the championship." Newton added, "In the end, as it always does, it's about consistency. Steve (Carlson) finishing in the top ten in every race is hard to beat, but Brian (Hoppe) tried, recording 17 top tens! And let's not overlook Ron Breese, Jr. who finished in third place despite not recording a win during the season, showed just how consistent their team was all season. It was truly an exciting season!"

Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. was very proud to be the exclusive tire supplier to the NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series during the 2001 season and looks forward to returning as the exclusive supplier of tires for the 2002 campaign. All Hoosier race tires are proudly manufactured by Americans in the great USA!

A special thanks to Steve Benesh for providing us with pictures of race winners throughout the 2001 RE/MAX season for use on hoosiertire.com. 

Copyright © 2001 Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. All rights reserved.
 Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.

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