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 EAGLE,
NE (June 20-22) -- The Pennzoil World of Outlaws contested the 19th
annual Eagle Nationals over the weekend in Eagle, Nebraska. And just
like last year, all three nights of competition ended with a
Hoosier-shod driver in the winner's circle. Craig Dollansky captured
the opening night win on Thursday, while Steve Kinser won the final
two nights of action. The 16-time champion also moved into the series
point lead as a result of his efforts at Eagle Raceway. The three wins
improved Team-Hoosier's record to 37 wins in 41 nights of racing in
the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series.
NIGHT #1 - June 20
Thirty-eight cars were entered for qualifying in the opening night of
racing on the 1/3-mile Eagle Raceway--33 of them of them on Hoosier
tires. Mark Kinser was the fastest Hoosier-shod qualifier with a lap
of 11.329 seconds.
Team-Hoosier captured three of the four preliminary
heat races. Paul McMahan, Jason Sides and Randy Hannagan each captured
a win in their respective 10-lap heat races.
Mark Kinser captured the second 7-lap dash race
earning the right to start the 30-lap feature on the outside pole.
In the 30-lap feature, 20 of the 24 starters rode on
Hoosier tires. Craig Dollansky, after starting third, took over the
race lead on lap 17 and led the remainder of the way to capture the
win on the first night of action in the Eagle Nationals. Dollansky
used a D10/D12 (left rear/right rear) combination en route to the
$5,000 win.
All told, Team-Hoosier captured 11 of the top 13
finishing positions. Brad Furr, who started sixth, finished third.
Mark Kinser took fourth place, while Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell,
Tyler Walker, Tim Shaffer, Danny Lasoski, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman
and Joey Saldana finished sixth through 13th, respectively.
NIGHT #2 - June 21
Thirty-nine cars were entered for qualifying on the second night of
racing--34 on Hoosiers. Joey Saldana set fast time on a pair of
Hoosier D10's. Saldana's time was 11.762 seconds, as eight of the ten
fastest times were posted by teams riding on Hoosier tires.
All four 10-lap heats were won by members of
Team-Hoosier. Mark Kinser won the first heat, while Jason Sides, Shane
Stewart and Tyler Walker won heats two through four, respectively.
Both dash races were also won by drivers using the
Hoosier brand. Steve Kinser won the first dash, while Craig Dollansky
won the second.
In the 30-lap feature, Steve Kinser led every lap of
the race after starting the race from the pole position. Kinser used a
pair of D12's for the $5,000 win. Finishing in second place was Brad
Furr after starting fifth. Furr also used a pair of D12's for the
30-lap race. Amazingly, the first seven drivers to cross the finish
line rode on Hoosier tires. Danny Lasoski, Brooke Tatnell, Daryn
Pittman, Tim Shaffer and Sammy Swindell finished third through
seventh, respectively, as 21 of the 24 feature starters used Hoosier
tires.
NIGHT #3 - June 22
There was no qualifying the final night as the 39 drivers were ranked
according to the points they earned during the two opening nights of
racing. The top four drivers in preliminary points were awarded the
first four positions in the one dash race that was contested.
For the second consecutive night, Team-Hoosier
captured all four preliminary heat races. Danny Lasoski, Craig
Dollansky, Joey Saldana and Sammy Swindell each won their respective
heats on Hoosier tires.
In the single dash race that was run, Brad Furr took
the win followed by Danny Lasoski. The two Hoosier-shod drivers were
awarded front row starting positions for the 40-lap feature as a
result of their 1-2 dash finish.
In the 40-lap feature, 20 of the 24 starters rode atop
Hoosier tires. The race was an exciting one as the lead changed hands
four time among three different drivers before it was finally decided.
Brad Furr and Craig Dollansky took turns leading the early stages of
the race before fifth starting Steve Kinser moved into the lead on lap
17. Kinser led the remainder of the distance to capture the $20,000
victory. Kinser opted to run the 40 laps on a Hoosier RD12/D12
combination. Mark Kinser charged from ninth to finish in the runner-up
position. Mark Kinser used a pair of RD12's en route to picking up the
$11,000 second place finish.
At the line, eight of the top ten finishers rode on
Hoosier tires. Tyler Walker, Tim Shaffer and Sammy Swindell finished
fourth through sixth, respectively, while Brad Furr, Joey Saldana and
P.J. Chesson wound up eighth through tenth, respectively. Amazingly,
Chesson started last en route to his tenth place finish. Second
starting Danny Lasoski wound up finishing 22nd after an on-track
incident.
The weekend of racing propelled Steve Kinser back into
the series lead in the standings with 4612 points. Danny Lasoski falls
to second place with 4588 points. Mark Kinser, Craig Dollansky, Joey
Saldana and Tim Shaffer are in third through sixth place in the
standings, as the top six drivers in the standings compete on the
Hoosier brand.
Racing resumes tonight in Topeka, KS for a make-up
race that was to have taken place on June 15th.
Hoosier Racing Tire Engineer John Reynolds attended the
3-day event and reported the details for this report.
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