Luke@tirerack

David Empringham (a Hankook-sponsored driver) recently set a Buttonwillow Raceway track record on Ventus Z214 DOT R-compound tires driving a Mitsubishi Evo 8. The previous top performance record was set more than three years ago, and many thought it was impossible to beat, according to Jason Kim, Hankook’s motorsports marketing manager. “Confirmed by Redline Time Attack officials,” he reports, “the 1:43.436 laid down by Empringham busted the official track record by nearly 0.10 seconds.”

Hankook racers claimed six class victories and eight overall podium finishes:

Empringham (Super Modified AWD) also won Overall honors while Andrie Hartanto (Super Modified RWD) captured his class win on the Ventus Z214.

Several class wins were also attributed to Hankook’s Extreme Performance Ventus R-S3 tires.

In the Drift class, Conrad Grunewald piloted his Hankook Chevrolet Camaro to first with Ken Xu placing second.

Paul Dentice (Enthusiast RWD), Clint Boisdeau (Street FWD), Mike Bonnani (Street RWD) all took class wins and Carl Rydquist (Modified RWD) took a second. “Fast and Furious” actor Paul Walker was in the mix as well.