Mindy's Minute - World 100 Style
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 – WORLD 100 STYLE Moorpark, Calif. - (September 12, 2006) I received some good reviews from how I approached my weekend wrap-up last week, so we’re going to try it the “ informal�?? way again. Since NHRA had a weekend off after Indianapolis, we took our Ringers Gloves/Chicago Pneumatic Road Show to the Nextel Prelude and the World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. For those of you who don’t know about Eldora, it is a high-banked, dirt half-mile track built and made famous by the previous owner, Earl Baltes. A couple years ago when Earl was ready to sell, Nextel Cup driver Tony Stewart purchased it and has kept the tradition of the track alive and made many wonderful improvements, with more to come. On Wednesday, the Nextel Prelude to the World (was supposed to be Prelude to the Dream, but was rained out in June) took place. Stewart invited drivers from NASCAR, NHRA, USAC, etc., to participate in this specialty race in which proceeds went to the Victory Junction Gang. Ringers’ racer and NHRA Funny Car point’s leader Ron Capps finished second in his heat race, which put him on the front row for the feature event. Capps ran as high as third on some occasions, but couldn’t hold off a hard-charging track owner Stewart for the win. Capps ended up finished fourth, while the Ringers team of Penske Racing South teammates Ryan Newman (who finished 20th in Saturday night’s Nextel Cup race) and Kurt Busch (finished 27th in Saturday night’s Cup race) finished 14th and 15th, respectively. The World 100 is a two-day show, with qualifying and non-qualifier races held on Friday and heat races and feature events on Saturday. This year, there were 195 entries for the event. If you have never been to a dirt late model race at Eldora, you are missing out on some great racing! I grew up in winged sprint car racing and can honestly admit that I was never a fan of dirt late model racing…until I went to my first World 100 in 2004. Ringers’ racer Earl Pearson Jr., started on the pole with another Ringers supporter Shannon Babb on his outside. On the start, Babb took the lead from Pearson. Another Ringers racer that was thrown into the mix throughout the night was Jeep VanWormer, who took the lead from Babb on lap 39. He didn’t hold onto it for long, but did regain it on lap 80. It is so hard to describe this race on paper because it was such an awesome race! On lap 81, VanWormer, Babb and Pearson all fight for the lead. Pearson takes the lead on lap 84, but continues to get pressure from Babb, VanWormer and eventually Josh Richards. By lap 96, Pearson has a little bit of breathing room and with only two laps remaining has a 12 car lead. Pearson wins the World 100 with Babb finishing second and VanWormer, third. Other Ringers notables in the field were: Josh Richards, fourth; Scott Bloomquist, fifth; Dale McDowell, seventh; Brian Birkhofer, eighth; Rick Eckert, 11th; Darrell Lanigan, 13th; Chub Frank, 14th; Donnie Moran, 19th and Steve Francis, who retired early, 25th. I would also like to congratulate Ringers’ racer Brad Ellingson on his win at the Milwaukee Mile over Labor Day weekend in the TRO Manufacturing presents the Area 5 Championship sponsored by Continental Acura & Audi of Naperville in the Club Formula Continental class…quite a mouthful! Ellingson also clinched the championship title in the same class for 2006. Way to go, Brad! I am off to Reading, Pa., on Thursday for the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway and more NHRA straight-line action! There might be a couple more recaps from my dirt tracking excursions at least two more times this season. 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/)