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IHBA: Phoenix Lakefest preview

Night Time Qualifying Highlights IHBA Season Opener April 11, 2001 (Austin, TX) --- The idea was the brainchild of IHBA president Charlie Fegan. For the first time in it's nearly 20-year history the IHBA will qualify its competitors after the sun ...

Night Time Qualifying Highlights IHBA Season Opener

April 11, 2001 (Austin, TX) --- The idea was the brainchild of IHBA president Charlie Fegan. For the first time in it's nearly 20-year history the IHBA will qualify its competitors after the sun has set. Friday's first round of qualifying at Firebird International Raceway will be conducted under a Musco lighting system as part of the IHBA's Lakefest 2001 event April 27-29, 2001.

"Our goal was to give the fans and sponsors something they have never seen before. When you see the fire shooting out of a Top Fuel Hydro engine in the daytime it's impressive, to see it in the dark will be amazing. 2001 will be a special year for the IHBA and we wanted to get it started with a bang at Firebird International Raceway," said Charlie Fegan, IHBA President.

"I am very excited about qualifying under the lights for the first time. We throw a lot of flames out of the headers and the crowd likes that a lot. I think it will really give the fans an awesome show. With good lighting you should be able to see the boats and the flames really well. In 2000 I won twice at Firebird and barely missed setting a new Top Fuel Hydro IHBA World elapsed time record. This year I am gunning for the title and I plan to put on a show when the sun goes down on Friday," said Dale Ishimaru, driver of the Liquid Thunder Top Fuel Hydro.

Preceding the historic night qualifying session, Friday will feature a Test and Tune event from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.. Racing action will resume on Saturday morning with the final two qualifying sessions beginning at 9 a.m.. Final Eliminations will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, with the Top Fuel Hydros taking the track at 11 a.m.

Tickets for IHBA Lakefest 2001 range in price from $19 to $35. Kids 12 and under are free with paying adults. Lucas Oil Products, Inc. will be the television title sponsor of the two Speedvision event broadcasts, Lucas Oil Lakefest 2001, on July 1st and July 8th (11:00 a.m. EST). Each show will be rebroadcast July 4th and July 11th at 3:30 p.m. EST, respectively.

The International Hot Boat Association (IHBA) is the premier sanctioning association for drag boat racing in the United States. The IHBA is dedicated to producing top-level motor sports events across the country by sanctioning 16 events at the national and divisional levels. The 2001 IHBA national series is a 12-event tour, with a $1.5 million purse, reaching over 300,000 fans, and culminating with the crowning of the IHBA World Championship at Firebird International Raceway. Log onto the IHBA website for more information www.ihbaracing.com

-IHBA-

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