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Lucas Oil Drivers Gary Ross and Ron De Hoop take runner-ups at PSCA World Finals
FONTANA CALIFORNIA (Monday, November 9, 2009) - Gary Ross and Ron De Hoop take Runner-Up finishes at the PSCA World Finals. The event took place at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana California. Ross drove his 2005 Pontiac Grand Am and De Hoop drove his 1967 Chevelle to the final round. Both drivers were the number five qualifier in their classes.
In the Outlaw 10.5 class Ross started the day by dispatching Richard Klann in the first round. Ross ran 7.225 seconds, 187.89 mph to Klann's 7.357 second, 182.60 mph pass. In the quarter-finals (second round), Gary Ross dismissed a red lighting Doug Sikora. That set Gary Ross up for a bye run into the final. Ross ran a 7.155 second, 189.82 mph pass in the semi-finals (third round).
In the final round, Ross and his 2005 Lucas Oil Pontiac Grand Am would face number three qualifier Rich Zehring. Rich had a .081 second reaction time advantage to Gary's .145 second reaction time. Zehring was ahead all the way down the quarter mile. When they crossed the finish line, Rich Zehring ran 6.676 seconds, 203.55 mph to Ross' 7.084 second, 193.43 mph pass.
Gary Ross wishes to thank Lucas Oil Products, Tom Bogner and B & B Electric.
In the Mean Street 10.60 index class, Ron De Hoop started his day by defeating Paul Stanley. De Hoop ran 10.803 seconds, 104.57 mph to Stanley’s 10.591 second 113.55 mph run. De Hoop ran slow because he was hard on the brakes. "I didn't want to break out and was on the brakes hard. I knew that I had a starting line advantage over Paul, so hitting the brakes was my only option," said De Hoop. In the second round, Ron De Hoop sat down Hank Oliver. De Hoop ran 10.646 seconds, 126.68 mph to Oliver's fast 10.551 second, 122.73 mph pass. Ron De Hoop dug down deep in the quarter-finals (third round) and had an impressive .007 reaction time to edge a faster but losing Brian Clark. De Hoop ran 10.654 seconds, 118.91 mph to Clark's 10.594 second, 125.17 mph run. In the semi-finals (fourth round), De Hoop had a perfect .000 reaction time and ran 10.598 seconds, 123.40 mph to dismiss Charlie Jorgensen (10.590 seconds, 127.21 mph.)
In the final round, De Hoop would have to face the red hot Sergio Felipe. When the lights went green, Felipe had a .002 starting line advantage. At the finish line. De Hoop took the stripe and automatically lost because he ran under the 10.60 second index by more than Felipe. De Hoop ran 10.569 seconds, 119.07 mph to Felipe's 10.588 second, 121.00 mph pass. Two weeks prior at the PSCA Fall Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, De Hoop was also the runner-up in the Open Comp class. Ron finishes the 2009 PSCA season third in Mean Street Championship points and fifth in Open Comp Championship points.
Ron De Hoop of CROSSMembers Racing Team wishes to thank his wife Ruth, the Good Lord above for allowing him the opportunity to drag race, Lucas Oil Products, Circle City Towing, Doug Thorley Headers, Bells Truck Sales, Hunny's Cafe and Tom Bogner and Jeff Derencin of Lucas Oil Products.
The next event for Gary Ross and Ron De Hoop is the 5th Annual Strret Car Super Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, November 19-22, 2009. For more info visit
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