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 LAS
VEGAS, NV (October 31-November 1) -- With Steve Kinser entering the
season ending event at Las Vegas a mathematical certainty to claim his
18th O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series championship, you might think
series runner-up Danny Lasoski might put the #20 JD Byrider car on
cruise control for the series' final event. But that was not the case
with Lasoski claiming wins on both Friday and Saturday night to close
out the 2003 season. Lasoski led all 25 laps in Friday's race and all
30 laps in Saturday's finale to close the season in grand fashion for
the 2001 series champion. Steve Kinser officially won the World of
Outlaws championship by 141 points over Lasoski who has finished
runner-up to the 18-time champion the past two seasons. Kinser's
18th crown also marks the fourth consecutive year the Hoosier brand
has been on the series champion's chariot. Kinser gave Hoosier Tire
its first title in 2000 and Danny Lasoski gave Team-Hoosier its second
consecutive crown in 2001 in which the Hoosier brand was used by 63 of
the 99 race winners. In 2002, Kinser won his 17th title with
Team-Hoosier posting a 90-6 record in the series. The purple tire
brand did even better in 2003 winning all but four races during the
92-race season. While it will be hard to top this year's 88-4 season,
that is exactly what the goal will be in 2004.
LAS VEGAS PRELIMINARY
LAS VEGAS, NV (October 31) -- Fifty cars were entered in qualifying
for the final event of the season in the World of Outlaws Series at
The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on Friday with 45 opting to run USA-made
Hoosier tires. The remaining five drivers were split (4-1) among
the other two competing tire brands. Joey Saldana earned fast
qualifier honors after circling the 1/2-mile clay oval in 13.854
seconds using a pair of Hoosier D10's. Saldana was followed by Steve
Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Daryn Pittman, Danny Lasoski and Jason Solwold
atop the qualifying leader board as Team-Hoosier claimed 20 of the top
21 times in qualifying.
In heat race competition, Team-Hoosier went undefeated
winning all four contests. Aaron Berryhill, Jeremy Campbell, Jason
Meyers and Danny Lasoski each won their respective heats using a pair
of Hoosier D10's.
In the two Dash races, Team-Hoosier's record remained
unblemished on the day when Danny Lasoski won the first Dash race,
while Terry McCarl won the second and final Dash. Both drivers again
used the super-fast Hoosier D10 compound en route to their wins.
In the feature, 23 of the 25 feature entrant rode on
Hoosier tires. Danny Lasoski started on the pole using a pair of D10's
and led all 25 laps en route to capturing the opening night win.
Lasoski collected $5,000 for the victory. Sammy Swindell finished in
second place after starting seventh. Swindell earned $3,000 for the
runner-up spot. Steve Kinser took the final podium spot after starting
fourth. Terry McCarl finished fourth for the 1-2-3-4 finish by drivers
using the Hoosier brand. Swindell, Kinser and McCarl each used a pair
of RD12's for the 25-lap feature.
Other top-ten finishers on Hoosiers were Joey Saldana,
Daryn Pittman, Jason Meyers, Tim Shaffer and Craig Dollansky in sixth
through tenth, respectively.
SEASON FINALE
LAS VEGAS, NV (November 1) -- For the second consecutive night, Joey
Saldana earned fast qualifier honors among the 43 qualifiers with a
lap of 14.025 seconds. The second night of action also had one of the
five non-Hoosier qualifiers from opening night make the switch to the
Hoosier brand. Brian Paulus switched to Hoosiers for the final race of
the season. With the four top finishers (all on Hoosiers) in Friday's
race given a free pass into the Dash, that left 43 cars posting times
in qualifying. When it was over, the Hoosier brand was used by 32 of
the 33 fastest qualifiers. Following Saldana in qualifying was Randy
Hannagan, Craig Dollansky, Roger Crockett, Donny Schatz and Jason
Meyers in second through sixth, respectively.
The D10 rear-drive combination again went undefeated
in heat race action when Kraig Kinser, Jason Solwold, Jeff Shepard and
Tim Kaeding each won their respective heats using the fast-firing
compound.
In the one Dash race contested, Danny Lasoski kept the
D10 combination in the winner's circle when he captured the 5-lap
Dash.
In the 30-lap feature, 23 of the 24 starters rode on
Hoosier tires. When the race was over, Danny Lasoski had led
flag-to-flag for his second win in as many nights. Lasoski again rode
a pair of D10's to victory lane. Amazingly, the D10 (left rear/right
rear) combination was used by both night's top qualifiers and every
race winner during the two-night Las Vegas event. Lasoski pocketed
$12,000 for the season-ending win, while Donny Schatz finished in
second place and accepted a $6,000 payout. Schatz opted to use a pair
of D12's for the 30-lap feature. Steve Kinser took third place and
$4,000 for the final podium spot. Kinser also rode atop a pair of
D10's in the final race of the season.
Joey Saldana, Sammy Swindell and Jason Meyers finished
in fourth through sixth with each using a pair of RD12's. Other
top-ten Hoosier-shod finishers were Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer and Tim
Kaeding in eighth through tenth, respectively.
Hoosier Open Wheel Dirt Product Manager Neil Cowman
attended the two-night show in Las Vegas and commented, "It was a
great season. I was glad to be able to get a chance talk to all the
teams and drivers in person on the 2003 season and what is in store
for next year."
Cowman concluded, "On behalf of everyone at
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. I would like to congratulate Steve Kinser on
winning his 18th World of Outlaws Series championship and extend our
sincere appreciation to all the teams, drivers and fans who have
supported our efforts to provide the best racing tires in the world.
This is now Hoosier's fourth consecutive championship in the series
and we will do all we can to secure a fifth consecutive title in
2004."
The 2003 season now comes to a close with the Hoosier
brand posting some impressive statistics. Hoosier tires were used by
88 of the 92 race winners and were also used by 90 of the 92
runner-ups and 86 of the 92 third place finishers. Amazingly,
Team-Hoosier finished 1-2-3 in 82 of the 92 races during the season. View
2003 results.
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