Hoffman Wins Hard Fought 6^th Annual International Gold Cup 100

Ft. Wayne, IN (August 8, 2003) – Veteran Mid-west late model competitor Eddie Hoffman made is first ever start with the Sunoco Super Series a memorable one, winning a hard fought battle with series veteran Scott Hantz in the 6^th Annual International Gold Cup 100 Thursday night at Baer Field Speedway in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Sunoco Super Series non-points sanctioned event had plenty of fireworks on the track through out the event.

Hoffman starting the evening off by setting a new track record in Yockey Motorsports Marketing Qualifying, Hoffman drew a three for the inverted start, which put Jack Landis and Hantz on the front row. Hantz, one of the local favorites, took the early lead from his outside pole starting position with Jack Landis and Hoffman in tow. Hoffman began to challenge Landis early in the event before finally getting buy setting his sights on Hantz. Hoffman, currently second in points with the NASCAR International Truck & Engine Midwest Series, crept closer and closer with his brakes glowing bright red with each passing lap. Hoffman challenged Hantz for several laps, doing everything he could to get around the former Sunoco Super Series Champion.

The heated battle backed off a bit at the end of a 56 lap green run before the red flag flew on lap 71 when precautions had to take place for an overheated electrical transformer above the grandstands. The problem was quickly fixed, and the racing resumed with Hoffman once again challenging Hantz for the lead. Finally after trading bumps and pushes with Hantz, Hoffman made the pass on lap 88 to take the lead and eventually the win, as Hantz had nothing left to challenge Hoffman. 

“Its great to get a win in our first time out with the Sunoco Super Series,” remarked Hoffman. “We were able to catch Hantz fairly quickly, but it sure was hard to pass him! We both did some beat ‘in and bang ‘in, but that’s racing, we both wanted to win this one! The red flag helped us tremendously, we had practically no brakes left at the end of that long green run in the middle, the red flag period cooled down the brakes so we could race hard again.”

The win was Hoffman’s 14^th of the season, which includes three wins with the NASCAR International Truck & Engine Midwest Series, and wins at Grundy County Speedway and Illiana Speedway were he competes on a part-time basis. Hoffman plans to race with the Sunoco Super Series again at IRP on August 16^th, Baer Field Speedway on August 24^th and at Rockford Speedway on September 21^st.

Hantz held on to finish second collecting the Jonny On The Spot Delivery Service Halfway Leader Award on the way. Jack Landis finished third with perhaps the best seat in the house for the great race between Hoffman and Hantz. Former Series Champion Brian Rievley finished fourth, his best series finish since his win at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway. Fred Campbell finished fifth after a night of tough battles for position with Junior Hanley and JR Roahrig. Hanley and Roahrig had good finishes go by the way side when contact between the two resulted in both drivers spinning out with ten laps to go.

Tom Kmak was the Gladiator GarageWorks Crew Chief Of The Race Award winner. Kmak was the Crew Chief for race winner Eddie Hoffman. Scott Baker was the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award winner. Baker finished 7^th after starting 18^th. Campbell and Baker claimed Goodyear Performance Awards. Ron Dantzer received the EMF Corp Hard Luck Award, a blown engine in practice kept Dantzer from competing in the event. Scott Hantz received the Sweet Manufacturing “Sweet Move” of the Race Award when he managed to re-pass Hoffman on the outside of turn one and two after Hoffman had slid by on the inside.

The next Sunoco Super Series event will be the GMAC 100 Presented By GM Visa Card at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday, August 16^th.

Official Results

Eddie Hoffman broke Larry Zent's 4 year old track record for the International Gold Cup event.  After seeing Scott Hantz come within 1 thousandth of a second of tying the old record, Hoffman set the new record of 17.301 seconds shattering the old record of 17.376

Qualifying Results