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IHRA: Hoover Makes Valiant Bid at IHRA Prolong Winter Nationals

10 May 1999

DARLINGTON, SC-- It was only nine years ago that Ed Hoover enjoyed one of the greatest days of his racing career. The veteran Pro Modified driver from Gilbert, S.C. captured the first-ever Pro Modified title in the newly christened division. He hoped to rekindle a little bit of that magic during the rescheduled IHRA Prolong Winter Nationals at his home track in Darlington, but fell short by dropping a tough decision against Quain Stott.

I knew that if we could get past Quain, that we could win this thing, explained Hoover, driver of the Trussell Motorsports 1963 Corvette. It just wasnt our day and I can accept that. Our current slump should never by confused with our desire to win. We will snap out of it and when we do, things will fall into place.

Hoover has yet to win a round of competition in 1999 IHRA national event competition But, let it be said that the former diesel mechanic does not lack anything to be competitive in the Pro Modified division. Hoover qualified initially in the ninth position with a 6.44/216 run

Stott was the quicker of the two out of the gate and that was the edge that the Inman, S.C. driver needed to fend off Hoover. He took the win-light with a 6.47/216.03 as Hoover clicked off early with a 6.508/199.23.

Hoover and Trussell Motorsports plans to continue their championship conquest at the IHRA Amalie Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill., June 18-20. Hoover, along with each Pro Modified contestant, will be afforded four qualifying runs during the course of the event and the quickest sixteen entries will compete in final eliminations on Sunday. This event will be televised on ESPN2 with the dates TBA in an upcoming issue of Drag Review.

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