Mindy's Minute
Press Information: For Immediate Release Contact Information Mindy Stephens Ringers Gloves Public Relations 800.421.8454 _mindys@ringersgloves.com_ (mailto:mindys@ringersgloves.com) MINDY’S MINUTE Moorpark, Calif. - (September 7, 2006) I am going to take a different, more informal approach this week with my weekend recap. I apologize for it being a couple days late. As soon as the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals wrapped up in Indy, I jumped in my car and headed to Rossburg, Ohio for the Nextel Prelude to the Dream (now World 100) on Wednesday and the World 100 this weekend at Eldora Speedway. The U.S. Nationals was an awesome event for Ringers Gloves! In addition to the event itself, we had the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle on Saturday. Andrew Hines took home the $25,000 payday over Chip Ellis. This was Chip’s second year being a bridesmaid, so to speak. Andrew gave Harley-Davidson its third straight Pro Bike title. We would like to thank and congratulate the other six riders on snagging a spot in the Battle; Angelle Sampey, Tom Bradford, Ryan Schnitz, Antron Brown, Matt Smith and Craig Treble. We really enjoy working with all the Pro Stock Motorcycle riders in NHRA and we also look forward to help continue to grow and support that class. On Sunday, we honored the riders in the Pro Bike Battle with a banquet in the Top Eliminator Club at the track. It was a great turnout and many of the teams were actually waiting for us to let them in right at 6:30 p.m. We don’ t only honor the Battle riders, but we like to do something special for the crew members as well. This is the second year we’ve held a raffle with various electronic items for the men and women that put in all the long hours to get the bikes down the track. I have to say I am a little upset with some of the top eight Battle riders…only a couple of them shook my hands, but everyone went straight to my boss, Kenny. Treble said it was because he was the one that actually had their paychecks! So, I guess you are all forgiven and I have no hard feelings! Monday was the “Big Go�?? and Ringers racers/teams were in all four professional categories. To clear one thing up, I consider all of the Pro Stock Motorcycle teams Ringers racers because they are all vying for the No. 1 qualifier spot, which we award $1,000 to. Last year at Indy, Matt Smith was awarded the win over Steve Johnson, but had it taken back because of a timing error which clearly showed Steve the winner. Matt took it in stride and got the sweetest revenge this year, by not only qualifying No. 1 for the event, but also officially collecting his win for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. His opponent in finals, Angelle Sampey, red lit at the Tree automatically handing him the win. Two Ringers racers landed in finals in Pro Stock finals. Dave Connolly was looking for his first U.S. Nationals win, but unfortunately also red-lighted, which is rare for the young driver. Greg Anderson picked up his fourth U.S. Nationals win in a row. Even though Ron Capps didn’t make it to the finals, he regained the point’s lead in Round 2 of eliminations. His teammate Whit Bazemore faced the driver who beat Capps’ in semifinals, Robert Hight. Bazemore gave it all he had, but it was just a little short of what Hight offered. However, in Top Fuel, another Schumacher Racing team member was able to bring home the U.S. Nationals Wally to the Don Schumacher Racing trophy case. Tony Schumacher battled Brandon Bernstein in the finals and simply drove away from with a 4.505-second run to Brandon’s 4.602-second run. Shoe dedicated the win to his crew chief Alan Johnson’s brother, Blaine, who lost his life 10 years ago at the prestigious race. That is my U.S. Nationals wrap-up! I’m dirt track racing this weekend at Eldora and head to Reading, Pa., next week for some more straight line action! 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 ‘06 by logging onto _www.ringersgloves.com_ (http://www.ringersgloves.com/) for photos and highlights! Mindy Stephens Public Relations/Marketing Ringers Gloves RingersIndy@aol.com _www.ringersgloves.com_ (http://www.ringersgloves.com/)