NORWALK, Ohio (September 7, 2012) – It all came down to one night.
After
seven stops, nearly 10,000 miles logged and a ton of racing, the chase
for Nitro Jam's professional championships all came down to the final
day of competition at the CarSafe Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131
Motorsports Park.
The
other three champions had already sealed their titles. Their drama was
over and they were able to breathe easy. Not so for a 19-year-old rookie
out of Las Vegas who faced a pressure no teenager should ever have to
endure in their very first year of racing – one pass for all the
marbles.
After
day one was rained out, Nitro Jam's professional teams had one less day
to make up ground in the championship chase making for a frantic – and
very exciting – showdown in front of a packed house as a near capacity
crowd watched Kyle Hough and Ron Maroney do battle for the Fuel Altered
championship in one of the tightest points battles in Nitro Jam history.
Kyle Hough won the Nitro Jam Fuel Altered championship in his first year behind the wheel
"We
had been running the numbers and we knew what we had to do when we
traveled to Martin," Hough said. "The week leading up to the race was
very frustrating for me. I was so anxious, I just wanted to get there,
get it over with and enjoy the race whether we were world champion or
not. Pulling up to the line with that much riding on my shoulders was
intense. It was one of the most exciting and nerve-racking moments of my
life."
Holding
a nine-point lead over Ron Maroney entering the weekend, Hough was left
in a precarious position when he lost in the first round and Maroney
advanced. That first round mishap left just enough room for Maroney to
make it interesting and control his own destiny.
But
in the final pass of the night Maroney smoked the tires and Mike
Hilsabeck drove to the win, giving the rookie his very first
championship by the slimmest of margins – two points.
"My
first thought when I was handed that trophy was wow, this thing is
heavy," Hough said with a laugh. "I got kind of emotional on the return
road with my dad and grandpa both standing there. My grandpa was a world
champion, my father was a world champion and to follow in their
footsteps and try and keep doing what they are doing, that is what this
is all about. To stand there with them holding that trophy was one of
the greatest moments of my life."
And
Hough's accomplishment was all the more impressive when you consider
that his championship trophy was his first award of the year. Hough
visited seven finals in 2012, but finished runner-up in each one. But on
Saturday it was consistency over flash as Hough was able to add to the
long legacy of the Hough name and the legend of the "Nanook" Fuel
Altered.
Despite not winning in 2012, Hough's seven finals were enough to give him to the title by two points
"Not
winning a race and then winning the championship, that is just
unbelievable. And to do it in my first year, I only know of a few guys
that have done that," Hough said. "I was actually at Bakersfield earlier
this year testing with Del Worsham and he told me he had won a
championship at 20 and I am only 19. That really put it in perspective
for me. This win really means the world to me."
While
not your ordinary championship season, Hough made it happen through
incredible consistency as he visited more final rounds than any other
driver. The only problem was that he was not able to close the deal in
any of his seven tries.
Hough
visited the final round in Tucson, San Antonio, Baton Rouge,
Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Edmonton twice, but lost all seven –
three times to Maroney, twice to Mike Hilsabeck and Tom Padilla and once
to Randy Bradford.
Still
that consistency was just enough to give Hough the advantage entering
Martin, Mich., an advantage that proved the difference in the
championship.
"The
first few races we struggled with our tune-up. We weren't running well
and we were flat getting beat," Hough said. "By Edmonton things started
to turn around, but then we ran into some other problems. We really
should have won both races, but we didn't. We also probably should have
won in Pittsburgh but again problems hit the team.
"I
have always said that racing is 90 percent luck and the funny thing is
it seems like this year it was 100 percent luck that was needed, but we
still came away with the trophy and that is all that matters."
Making
the win even more enjoyable was the fact that Hough's dad Rick and
grandpa Dave were on hand to celebrate with him. Both Dave and Rick
drove the "Nanook" Fuel Altered during its glory years with both drivers
winning multiples races. Now Kyle has been handed the torch and will
carry on the family legacy in a car that has proven one of the
winningest Altereds of all-time.
Hough's father and grandfather have both piloted 'Super Nanook' to victory
"It
means a lot to me to get to carry on the family name," Hough said. "It
certainly adds a lot more stress because everyone knows that this car
has run good in the 70s, it ran well in the 2000s with dad driving and
everyone knows that this car runs well. They know that when they run us
they are going up against one of the best. To carry on that legacy and
be a third generation driver, that is what it is all about."
While
Hough never managed to find victory lane in 2012, five others did.
Maroney led the way in the win column behind the wheel of the "Blind
Faith" Altered with five wins this season, followed by Mike Hilsabeck in
"Arizona Thunder" and Tom Padilla in "Nasty Benjamin" with three wins
apiece, Ron Hope in "Rat Trap" with two victories and Randy Bradford and
the "Bradford's Fiat" crew had one win.
Ironically,
championship runner-up Maroney won his first championship last year
driving, you guessed it, the "Nanook" machine that Hough piloted this
year. Maroney took on the role until Hough got his license and then
returned to his own team this year. Hough, on the other hand, went from
crewing the car to making 220 mph passes all in the span of a year.
"I
am definitely enjoying driving it. I loved tuning the car and doing
everything on the starting line, but this is a lot different," Hough
said. "When you are in the seat it is just you. When that light turns
green no one is there to help. It is all you and I love that."
Now
the "Nanook" team will gear up for a run at a third straight
championship while Hough will work in reverse order as he tries to get
his first career victory.
"I
know that I will get that win and I know that we will get more
championships, but really more than anything I am going to enjoy this,"
Hough said. "I really want to thank the IHRA for giving us a place to
race. I also want to thank Lucas Oil, Goodyear, Hedman Hedders and of
course the fans. We couldn't do any of this without the incredible IHRA
fans."
