In its first year of execution, the new Countdown to the Championship format provided excitement and nail-biting action like it promised, but also crowned champions up until the last round of racing in two classes and not races before in years past.
Ringers Gloves is pleased to announce three of the four professional classes were Ringers' supporting teams, with two of the three also being race winners in their respective classes.
Heading into the season finale at Pomona, Matt Smith knew he still had a chance at bringing home his first POWERade championship in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, but it was a slim one. Leaving Las Vegas, Smith sat in third, 57 points behind then leader Andrew Hines. With Hines scoring the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Low Qualifier award, both Smith and Chip Ellis were on the outside looking in, until quarterfinals when Hines red lit and left the door wide open for the two riders. It all came down to the final round with whoever won the race, won the championship. Ellis left late off the line, but still gave Smith a run for the win and the championship, but just didn't have enough. Smith's 0.033 reaction time and 6.944-second/191.08 mph run was the run which landed him and his Torco Race Fuels/S&S Buell in the POWERade Winner 's Circle on Sunday in Pomona and on the champion's stage Monday night in Los Angeles. His championship margin was only six points over 2006 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hines.
Smith wasn't the only privateer picking up his first championship as a first-time owner. Tony Pedregon won his first ever POWERade championship in 2003, but under the John Force Racing umbrella, before venturing out with his own team in 2004. A mere three years later, Pedregon, and his team led by Dickie Venables and Kurt Elliott, claimed their first world championship under the Pedregon Racing banner. Pedregon didn't have to wait until the last round like Smith, but he still had quite a nerve-racking day, after losing first round to Jeff Arend. He could have clinched the championship if he would have won. Pedregon had to wait until semifinals when Robert Hight didn't make a national record-setting pass, to pick up his combined paychecks of $500,000 ($400,000 from POWERade and $100,000 for the Countdown bonus).
Ringers' supporting team Cagnazzi Racing guided driver Jeg Coughlin Jr., to his third Pro Stock world championship in his Jegs.com Chevrolet Cobalt. Jeggie's championship luck turned around the previous race in Vegas after he beat his teammate Dave Connolly in a round matchup, putting him in second place behind Greg Anderson. Anderson was eliminated in first round on a hole shot win by Justin Humphreys on Sunday in Pomona. Connolly also bowed out early in the day, with a first round red light start. Jeggie picked up his championship checks after his second round win over Richie Stevens Jr. A Ringers' team and supporting driver was in within reach of his first POWERade Top Fuel championship, but that meant Tony Schumacher would have had to lose in the final round on Sunday. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for " Hot Rod" Fuller. Fuller went up in tire smoke right off the line in first round, resulting in him watching from the starting line the rest of the day. Fuller's fate was sealed on the final pass of the day and he lost out on his championship by 19 points to Schumacher.
Ringers' also would like to congratulate a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion; and that driver if Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo. Manzo picked up the winnings for his 11th TAFC championship in his Lucas Oil-sponsored Funny Car in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon at the LODRS banquet, prior to the POWERade Drag Racing Series banquet.
Again, I would like to extend many congratulations to not only our Ringers championship teams, but to all of our teams throughout Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock, Funny Car and Top Fuel we sponsored throughout the 2007 season and to the many sportsmen racers who participate in our contingency program on both the national and divisional levels. It was not only an honor, but also a pleasure to work with each and every one of you and we look forward to the opportunity in 2008! I also want to say many thanks to everyone at NHRA, ESPN2, NHRA Safety Safari and everyone on the Manufacturer's Midway we work with and see on a weekly basis. I personally hope everyone has a very safe and bountiful holiday season, not to mention a restful off-season. Because before we know it, the 92 days until February 7, 2008, the start date of the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, will be upon us!
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.