Brownsburg, Ind. - (September 5, 2007) Five Ringers supporting racers went into the finals at the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Monday, however only two were able to step up onto the Winner’s Circle stage to collect their trophies.
Both Dave Connolly and Craig Treble became first-time U.S. Nationals winners in their respective classes of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Connolly’s first “Big Go” win came a little bit harder for him than what Treble’s did with Connolly facing defending U.S. Nationals champion Greg Anderson. Anderson left the Tree a little bit before Connolly, but he caught him at the 60-foot mark to cruise onto his first Indy Wally, 6.710/206.32 to Anderson’s 6.729/205.79 mph run.
Treble also faced a defending Indy winner, that of Matt Smith. Smith had the quicker run of the two, but jumped the light 0.003 seconds too early, handing Treble his Indy win. The big win couldn’t have come at a better time for the Team Tigue Suzuki, considering the motorcycle is unsponsored.
It appeared that Snake Racing’s Larry Dixon was going to complete the sweep of defeating 2006 Indy winners, but he encountered some oil on the track close to the finish line, causing a set of smoking tires and giving Tony Schumacher another Top Fuel win.
Although Mike Ashley isn’t a Ringers supporting racer, the special paint scheme he had on his Funny Car was one that was close to us all. Donnie and Holly Faulkner, the husband and wife team that run the Rolling Oakley store out on the NHRA circuit, lost their son Eric Blake in late May, only weeks before he was due. Ashley and his sponsor Evan Knoll of Torco Racing Fuels retained designer Chip Foose to come up with a paint scheme to adorn his Funny Car. Ashley was able to put that specialty painted body into the Winner’s Circle for Donnie and Holly on Monday and for that I would like to say congratulations to the Gotham City Racing team and to Donnie and Holly, two of the nicest people you will find out on the tour.
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series has a week off before heading to the Birthplace of Blues and the Memphis Motorsports Park for the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch was the luckier of the two teammates over the weekend at California Speedway. Busch collected the Budweiser Pole Award in his No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge for the Sharp AQUOS 500. His ninth place finish on Sunday night moved him up to 11th in the Chase for the Nextel Cup point standings. Ironically, teammate Ryan Newman qualified fourth in both the Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series races and suffered engine woes in both races. On Saturday, he exited the race on lap 100 finishing 31st and lap 194 on Sunday, finishing 39th. The finish on Sunday completely eliminated Newman from breaking into the top 12 to chase for the Nextel Cup.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series raced under the lights at Gateway International Raceway just outside of St. Louis on Saturday night. Brendan Gaughan led the Ringers supporting racers to the finish line in the 10th position in his No. 77 South Point Resort Chevorlet. Boris Jurkovic raced the No. 08 Green Light Racing Chevrolet on Saturday and brought it home to a 21st-place finish, while Tim Sauter had engine problems and was scored 31st.
Johnny Greaves collected the BorgWarner Shootout trophy at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway in CORR action in Crandon, Wis., over the weekend. This marks Greaves’ second BorgWarner Shootout championship.
In dirt late model action, Chub Frank picked up a win in MACS competition at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., on Friday night. Frank prepares to take on Eldora Speedway this weekend for the 37th annual World 100. Jeep VanWormer warmed up at Eldora Speedway for the same event on Saturday night with a win in the Johnny Appleseed Classic.
About Ringers Gloves
Ringers Gloves, Official Gloves of NHRA and title sponsor for the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, is a full-line manufacturer of high-end, task specific gloves, SFI 3.3/1, 3.3/10, 3.3/20 racing gloves, UnderX protective undergarments and rdigs pit boots.
Keep up with your favorite Ringers racers in ‘07 by logging onto the newly redesigned www.ringersgloves.com for photos and highlights!
