RINGERS GLOVES PRESENTS MINDY’S MINUTE

Source: Ringers Gloves Media Relations
Date: 05/22/2008

BROWNSBURG, Indiana – Greetings from back home in Indiana! I arrived back from the Charlotte area this afternoon after spending some time down there and in Bristol, Tenn., over the past week and weekend.

Speaking of “back home in Indiana,” it is the week of the Indianapolis 500 in my fair city and people from everywhere are pouring into the “racing capitol of the world” to witness the greatest spectacle in racing. But, before all those festivities kick off with Community Day at the Track tomorrow, let me recap on my past week of racing.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series visited picturesque Bristol for the O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals at the Bristol Dragway. The first two days of racing the weather cooperated with everyone but on Sunday it was a completely different story. After the first round of Top Fuel and the first passes of Funny Car, it started sprinkling and the teams in the pit area battled rain showers on and off throughout the day, until after the Top Fuel semifinals, then the skies opened up and I personally thought there was no way possible anymore racing was going to happen. Low and behold, I arrive back to my friend’s house in Huntersville and ESPN2 had gone live with the finals.

At the end of the soggy day, one sole Ringers’ supporter landed in the Winner’s Circle, marking his first win on the season since his comeback just three races ago.

Dave Connolly piloted his Charter Communications Chevrolet Cobalt to a hole shot win over Greg Stanfield. Connolly blistered Stanfield with a 0.014-second reaction time and 6.731-second, 204.70 mph run to pick up his first win since Richmond in October 2007. The win was capped off for Connolly when his father, Ray, collected his Wally with his son after winning in the Super Gas Lucas Oil Sportsmen Series category.

D. Connolly’s win boosted him into the top 15 in points, still giving him a shot at the Chase to the Championship in the Pro Stock category.

NHRA has this weekend off before heading to Heartland Park at Topeka, May 30 through June 1 for the O’Reilly Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX.

On Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returned to action after a three-week hiatus for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Ringers’ supporter Brendan Gaughan led the supporting teams to the finish line with a third place finish, his first top-five finish of the season. Kyle Busch piloting the No. 51 for Billy Ballew Motorsports crossed the line in eighth, after collecting the pole for the event. Other Ringers’ notables in the field were the second entry of Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 15, driven by Marc Mitchell, in 24th; Jason White in Green Light Racing’s No. 08 in 26th and the No. 07 of John Mickel in 31st.

Even though the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday night wasn’t a point’s race for the teams in the series, the crews of the Penske Racing trio used it as a valuable race to collect data and prepare for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600.

Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman led the trio to the finish line in the final segment of the race in sixth position in his No. 12 Alltel Dodge, with teammate Kurt Busch finishing directly behind him in seventh.

Sam Hornish Jr. had to race his way into the million-dollar specialty event through the 40-lap qualifying race. Only two drivers were able to transfer to the showdown and Hornish was one of them. He brought his No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge home in 22nd.

Be sure to check out the Penske Racing trio in action at this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600, with qualifying and practice starting on Thursday.

That’s the minute for this week. Be sure to check out next week’s with coverage from Carb Day, the Indy 500 and all the action in Charlotte. Everyone have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Ringers Gloves, the 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, UnderX Performance gear, crew shoes, as well as a full line of accessories for every need. Isn’t it time you bring in the Ringers? Check us out at www.ringersgloves.com.

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