Briston: Dave Hirata wrap up

BRISTOL, Tenn - Federal Mogul Dragster pilot Dave Hirata wheeled his Hirata Motorsports A/Fuel Dragster to a runner up finishduring this past weekend's Winston Showdown at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee. Hirata was defeated by Jay Meyer in the finals, 5.577/250.13 to his own 6.347/212.86.

Hirata came into the race hot off a dominating win in St. Louis, and qualified No. 2 with a 5.533/257.68. During eliminations, he defeated Michael Gunderson and Bill Reichert before getting a bye in the semifinals that put him in the finals.

Hirata said, "Our gameplan coming into the race was just to leave it alone from St. Louis. We really didn't expect the air to be as bad as it was with the heat and altitude."

"We hurt the motor on our bye run in the semi's. We couldn't fix the problem right, so we just put it back together hoping Meyer would smoke the tires, break, or redlight in the finals."

Hirata's next stop will be in two weeks at the Division 3 Federal Mogul Drag Racing event at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Michigan, where he will be gunning to improve on his runner up finish in Bristol with a win.