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 MECHANICSBURG,
PA (July 24) -- The local racers at Williams Grove Speedway, also
known as the Pennsylvania Posse, successfully fended off the invading
O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series regulars Thursday night in the first
of three races making up the $150,000 Summer Nationals contested at
the famous 1/2-mile track. Don Kreitz, Jr. picked a great time to
collect his first win of the season leading flag-to-flag in the 25-lap
feature. Kreitz was followed by fellow PA Posse member Keith Kauffman.
The two were then followed by Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski as the
two continued their season-long battle to lead the Outlaws standings.
Among the many stories occurring during the night of racing was the
Hoosier brand enjoying its best performance of the season. In the
feature, the Hoosier brand was used by 23 of the 24 starters and
finished 1-22 in the night's final race. Team-Hoosier has now won 50
of 52 races and finished 1-2-3 in 43 consecutive races in the World of
Outlaws Series.
In qualifying, 43 cars took turns posting times with
38 drivers making their qualifying attempts using Hoosier tires. The
remaining five drivers were split among the two other competing tire
brands. Danny Lasoski set fast time of the night after circling the
1/2-mile oval in 16.805 seconds. Lasoski was followed by 13 more
Hoosier-shod drivers including; Keith Kauffman, Donny Schatz, Greg
Hodnett, Paul McMahan, Lance Dewease, Adrian Shaffer, Joey Saldana,
Sean Michael, Todd Hestor, Steve Kinser, Jason Hagenbuch, Sammy
Swindell and Len Thompson.
In heat race competition, drivers using Hoosiers
claimed three wins with Cris Eash, Tim Shaffer and Mark Kinser each
capturing their respective heats.
In the Dash races, Hoosier was a perfect two-for-two
when 16th qualifying Don Kreitz, Jr. won the first Dash race and Fred
Rahmer won the final Dash. The wins also gave the two PA Posse members
front row starting positions in the night's feature race.
In the 25-lap feature, 23 of the 24 starters rode on
Hoosier tires. When the green flag waved, Don Kreitz, Jr. immediately
took control from the pole using a 94-inch Hoosier RD12 as his left
rear tire selection and a Hoosier RD15 as his right rear tire choice.
The choice was a good one with Kreitz leading every lap of the race en
route to his first win of the season. Keith Kauffman finished in
second place using a Hoosier 96-inch D12/D15 combination. Steve Kinser
finished in third giving the Outlaws regulars the final spot on the
podium. Kinser used a 94-inch D12/RD15 combination as did fourth place
finisher Danny Lasoski.
All told, the first 22 cars to cross the finish line
in the night's feature rode on Hoosier tires. Completing the lengthy
list of Hoosier-shod finishers were; Fred Rahmer (5th), Donny Schatz,
Sean Michael, Lance Dewease, Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer, Cris Eash,
Joey Saldana, Todd Hestor, Jason Meyers, Tyler Walker, Jason Sides,
Sammy Swindell, Jason Hagenbuch, Daryn Pittman, Greg Hodnett, Len
Thompson and Mark Kinser. Jac Haudenschild was the final Hoosier-shod
finisher. He finished in 24th place.
The Outlaws regulars will look for revenge tonight,
July 25, when the Summer Nationals continues at Williams Grove
Speedway. Hoosier Engineer John Reynolds is in Mechanicsburg, PA
attending the three-race event and provided the details for this
report.
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