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 MECHANICSBURG,
PA (July 25-27) -- Greg Hodnett, one of the local "Pennsylvania
Posse" members, captured the inaugural Summer Nationals at
Williams Grove Speedway on Saturday night. All three nights of the
event ended in a 1-2-3 finish for Hoosier. All three winners also used
Hoosier's newly introduced RD15 compound. Danny Lasoski won the
opening night, while Joey Saldana won the feature on the second night
of competition which was marred by the crash of Danny Lasoski in the
first warm-up session. Lasoski was transported to the local hospital
where it was determined the defending series champion suffered a
concussion. Lasoski entered the event leading the Pennzoil World of
Outlaws point standings, but was unable to compete on Friday and
Saturday as a result of his injuries.
OPENING NIGHT - July 25
In the opening night of action at Williams Grove Speedway Thursday
night, 33 cars were on hand for qualifying--30 of them on Hoosiers.
Joey Saldana set fast time at 16.481 seconds around the 1/2-mile
track. He was followed by Todd Hestor at 16.571 seconds and Danny Wood
at 16.614 seconds as Team-Hoosier posted the three fastest times in
qualifying.
All four heat races were won by Hoosier-shod drivers.
Greg Hodnett won the first heat, while Fred Rahmer, Danny Lasoski and
Todd Shaffer won heats two through four, respectively.
Both dash races were won by drivers on Hoosier tires.
Danny Lasoski won the first dash race, while Pennsylvania Posse member
Sean Michael took the second dash.
In the 25-lap feature, Danny Lasoski, using a Hoosier
RD12/RD15 compound combination led every lap en route to picking up
the $5,000 win. Finishing in second place was Sean Michael who
collected $3,000. Tim Shaffer took third and completed the 1-2-3 sweep
by Hoosier-shod teams. Shaffer pocketed $2,500 for the final podium
spot. Both Michael and Shaffer used a pair of D12's for the 25-lap
race.
Other Hoosier-clad drivers finishing in the top ten
were: Lance Dewease (5th), Steve Kinser (6th), Joey Saldana (7th),
Greg Hodnett (9th), and Mark Kinser (10th).
SECOND NIGHT - July 26
The second night of action got off to a bad start when Thursday's
winner, Danny Lasoski, blew a right rear tire causing the defending
series champion to back hard into the retaining wall during the first
hot-lap session. Lasoski was transported to a local hospital where it
was determined he suffered a concussion and would be unable to compete
the final two nights of the Nationals.
Thirty-one cars were entered in qualifying--28 of them
on Hoosier tires. For the second consecutive night, Joey Saldana set
fast time of the night. Saldana's time was 16.691 seconds.
Also for the second night in a row, all four heat race
winners were riding on the Hoosier brand. Tim Shaffer, Fred Rahmer,
Sammy Swindell and Todd Shaffer each won their respective heats.
Both dash races were also won by drivers using Hoosier
tires. Greg Hodnett won the first dash race, while Brad Furr captured
the second dash.
In the 25-lap feature, Greg Hodnett took the lead at
the outset from the pole position. Hodnett would hold the lead until
lap 16, when Tim Shaffer moved into the race lead after starting
fourth. Shaffer held the lead until lap 24, when Joey Saldana made the
pass for the lead with just two laps remaining. The fifth starting
Saldana kept the lead until the checkered flag fell on lap 25. Saldana
used a D12/RD15 combination en route to the $5,000 win.
Tim Shaffer finished in second place using a Hoosier
RD12/D12 combination. Steve Kinser took third taking the final podium
spot on a pair of D12's.
All told, Hoosier drivers captured the top eight
positions in the night's final race. Brad Furr, Mark Kinser, Greg
Hodnett, Donny Schatz and Keith Kauffman rounded out fourth through
eighth, respectively. Daryn Pittman finished tenth to complete the
list of top-ten Hoosier-shod drivers.
FINAL NIGHT - July 27
On Saturday night, there was no qualifying. Points were awarded
for the performance during the two previous night's competition and
would determine the first four spots in the single dash race that was
contested. Tim Shaffer (1058), Joey Saldana (1055), Steve Kinser
(1029), and Don Kreitz, Jr. (1016) were the top four in preliminary
qualifying points.
Two of the three heat race winners were members of
Team-Hoosier. Greg Hodnett won the second heat race, while Mark Kinser
won the third heat race.
In the single dash race contested, Tim Shaffer
captured the 5-lap win on Hoosier tires and would start the feature on
the pole with Joey Saldana alongside.
In the 30-lap A-feature, Tim Shaffer led the first
three circuits before giving way to Joey Saldana. Saldana led through
lap 27, when sixth starting Greg Hodnett moved into the lead. Hodnett,
using a D12/RD15 combination, led the remainder of the way to capture
the $20,000 win. Saldana finished runner-up and collected $11,000. Tim
Shaffer rounded out the top three and pocketed $5,500. The top three
finishers all used the same D12/RD15 combination.
Hodnett
commented on Hoosier's new RD15 right rear tire after the win, “I
just want to thank Apple Dealerships, Don Ott Engines, Maxim Chassis,
Hoosier Tires, Hoosier came out with a new tire just for this track
and it worked to perfection."
Other top ten finishers on Hoosier tires were: Donny
Schatz (4th), Steve Kinser (5th), Mark Kinser (7th), Sammy Swindell
(9th), and Daryn Pittman (10th).
The three wins for Team-Hoosier extends their current
win streak to 25 in Pennzoil World of Outlaws competition. Hoosier
tires have now won 56 of the 60 races contested thus far in the
series.
As a result of Danny Lasoski being unable to compete
Friday and Saturday, Steve Kinser regains the Pennzoil World of
Outlaws lead with 6743 points followed by Lasoski with 6658 points.
Joey Saldana, Craig Dollansky, Mark Kinser, Donny Schatz and Tim
Shaffer round out the "all-Hoosier" top seven in the
standings.
Racing resumes tonight at New Egypt Speedway in New
Egypt, NJ.
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