HOERNER MAKES HISTORY WITH XPS WIN

A pair of first-time finalists decided the Extreme Pro Stock (XPS) title for the Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe when Todd Hoerner drove the only EFI-equipped entry in the 16-car field to victory over Trevor Eman. Hoerner’s win also represented the first visit to victory lane in any sanctioning body by a 2012 Camaro in Pro Stock trim.

Hoerner defeated Brad Waddle and Brian Gahm in the first two rounds before using a holeshot to get by defending class champion Cary Goforth in the semis, while Eman beat 2010 class champ John Montecalvo, Scott Hintz and David Schorr to reach the final round.

“It was really exciting for both of us, I think, being that Trevor had never been to a final before either,” said number-three starter Hoerner after overcoming a .028 holeshot by Eman and his Team Aruba 2011 Mustang with a best-of-eliminations 4.072 pass at 177.30 mph. Eman, the ninth-place qualifier, opened with a .018 light that led to a 4.116 run at 176.56 mph.

 “We tried not to over do it and beat ourselves,” Hoerner said. “I wasn’t surprised but definitely a little worried when I saw him leave on me, but then that Sonny’s horsepower kicked in and got the job done. I have to thank Sonny Leonard, of course, and Jerry Bickel for building me a killer car, and John Meaney at Big Stuff; we all worked together to get this done and they all deserve credit, too.”

Number-one qualifier John DeFlorian, who ran a double-record-setting 4.018 at 179.92 to start from the top of the list, got out of shape in his opening pass in eliminations, which handed the win to Hintz.

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