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 TALLADEGA,
AL (October 19, 20) -- The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series completed
a two-night show at Alabama's Talladega Short Track over the weekend
with results mirroring those of the entire 2001 season. On the opening
night of competition, young Shane Stewart led the final 23 laps of the
30-lap preliminary feature en route to capturing his first ever
Pennzoil feature. Stewart also led a contingent of Hoosier-shod driver
across the finish line as eight of the top ten finishers were using
USA-made Hoosier tires. In the finale on Saturday, Andy Hillenburg
swapped the lead with, recently re-signed Team Hoosier member, Steve
Kinser, before re-capturing the lead for good on lap 24 of the 30-lap
event. Hillenburg was followed to the line by Steve Kinser in second
and Danny Lasoski in third, for the 29th, 1-2-3 Hoosier finish during
the 2001 Pennzoil World of Outlaws season.
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 PRELIMINARY
NIGHT - Friday, October 19
Thirty-two cars were entered for qualifying, 19 of them were
riding atop the Hoosier brand. Danny Lasoski, using the Hoosier D10
compound, not only set fast time of the group but also established a
new single lap record when he eclipsed the 1/3-mile track in just
10.926 seconds. In fact, Hoosier-shod cars posted the top three times,
as well as, eight of the ten fastest times. Paul McMahan was second
quickest at 10.970 seconds followed by Shane Stewart third fastest.
Also in the top ten were Craig Dollansky, Danny Wood, Daryn Pittman
and Andy Hillenburg in fifth through eighth. Brad Furr rounded out the
list of top ten Hoosier-shod qualifiers in tenth.
Two of the three preliminary heat races were won by drivers on the
Hoosier brand. Brad Furr won the first heat, while Andy Hillenburg won
the second. Shane Stewart finished second in the third heat for
Hoosier's top finish.
Team Hoosier placed eight drivers among the ten Channellock Dash
competitors. Shane Stewart was, once again, Team Hoosier's top
finisher in the 10-lap event. Shane Stewart, Brad Furr, Andy
Hillenburg, Danny Lasoski, Paul McMahan, Daryn Pittman and Craig
Dollansky finished second through eighth, and Danny Wood wound up in
tenth.
The B-feature was also won by Team Hoosier driver Jason Sides.
In the 30-lap preliminary night feature, it took only five laps for
freshly crowned Gumout Champion, Daryn Pittman and his Hoosier D10/D12
combination, to burst into the lead after starting fifth. Pittman
would maintain the race lead until lap 8, when Shane Stewart moved
into the lead. Stewart would lead the remaining laps to capture his
first ever Pennzoil feature win and pocket the $5,000 winner's
check.
Finishing in second place was Andy Hillenburg who was also using a
Hoosier D10/D12 set-up. Rounding out the list of top ten Hoosier drivers
was Danny Lasoski, Daryn Pittman, Paul McMahan and Joey Saldana in
fourth through seventh. Steve Kinser finished ninth after starting
clear back in sixteenth, as Craig Dollansky completed the list of top
ten finishers.
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 FINALE
NIGHT - Saturday, October 20
With the top four preliminary finishers, three being Team Hoosier
members, getting a pass into the Channellock Dash, that left 24 cars
posting times in qualifying. Once again, the Hoosier brand dominated
qualifying after the top six times were on the purple tire brand as
fully nine of the top ten were members of Team Hoosier. Steve Kinser
set fast time followed by Craig Dollansky, Johnny Herrera, Brad Furr,
Mark Kinser and Jason Sides. Also in the top ten were Danny Wood in
eighth, Paul McMahan in ninth and Kraig Kinser in tenth.
Not only did things improve from the opening night of racing in
qualifying, they did in heat racing as well for Team Hoosier.
Ironically, all three heats were won by Hoosier-shod young guns. Kraig
Kinser won the first heat, while Jason Meyers and Daryn Pittman
captured the second and final heats respectively.
Once again, Team Hoosier placed fully eight drivers in the ten
member Channellock Dash. Once again, drivers on Hoosier's improved
their opening night performance as they finished 1-2. Shane Stewart
captured the win, while Andy Hillenburg was runner-up. Danny Lasoski
finished fourth, Steve Kinser fifth, Johnny Herrera sixth, Kraig
Kinser seventh and Brad Furr eighth. Jason Sides rounded out the top
ten in tenth.
The B-main was once again won by a driver outfitted on Hoosier
tires, as Mark Kinser won the last chance event.
In the 30-lap A-main, two Team Hoosier drivers would do battle to
determine an ultimate winner. Andy Hillenburg, on a Hoosier RD12/D15
combination, got the early jump on opening night winner, Shane
Stewart, from his outside pole position to take the early race lead.
Hillenburg would lead until lap 20, when Steve Kinser took a turn at
the point. Kinser opted for a Hoosier D12/D15 combination for the
30-lap race. Hillenburg however, regained the lead on lap 24, and
would lead the remainder of the event to capture the checkered flag.
Danny Lasoski, on a Hoosier RD12/RD12 combination, not only
finished in third place which gave Team Hoosier it's 29th, 1-2-3 sweep
in Pennzoil World of Outlaws competition in 2001, it also moved the
#20L driver to within 14 points of current series points leader, Mark
Kinser, as the series heads into it's final five events of the season.
All told seven drivers in the top ten were using Hoosier tires.
Shane Stewart finished in fifth, Craig Dollansky in sixth, Brad Furr
in seventh and Johnny Herrera in tenth.
Next up for the series is another Friday-Saturday show this
weekend. The Outlaws travel to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite,
Texas for the Winter Nationals.
The Team Hoosier domination also propelled a fourth Hoosier-clad
driver up in the elite series' standings. Craig Dollansky moved into
fourth place in the standings, as now the top four drivers in the
series point standings are on Hoosier tires. Joining Dollansky at the
top are Mark Kinser in first place with 9411 points, Danny Lasoski in
second with 9397 points. Steve Kinser is solidly in third place with
9190 points. Dollansky's total is 8940 points, placing him in fourth
place, as six of the top ten in points are Team Hoosier
members.
Hoosier ARCA product manager, Jeff Speer, attended both nights of
competition while attending the ARCA event at the Superspeedway during
the daylight hours, had this to say about the competition, "This
was my first-ever dirt race, and what I witnessed was amazing."
Speer continued, "I thought going nearly 200 mph on asphalt was
harrowing enough, but these guys going as fast as they do, on dirt and
without fenders!......my hat is off to them."
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