Silver Crown IRP Race to Kenny Irwin

08/14/96

Kenny Irwin, Jr. of Indianapolis, Ind. took another step closer to his first USAC National driving championship Wednesday night, winning the "DuPont 100" Silver Crown Championship race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The victory was worth $11,725 and extended his lead over Jimmy Sills to 218 points.

Irwin won the pole for the 100-lap race at 117,993 mph., then led all 100 laps to beat Sills, Mike Bliss, Robby Flock and Eric Gordon to the checkered flag. Bliss, who won the May 18 Silver Crown race at IRP, failed in his bid for the $10,000 Print Express Exacta bonus for the two-race sweep.

Irwin is assured of maintaining the series lead past the next event, the "Tony Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. August 17, since there are only 200 points available at Springfield.

Wednesday's race was halted on the third lap after a multi-car accident on the backstretch which sidelined Bill rose and defending race winner Jim Keeker. There were no driver injuries.

Randy Tolsma and Brian Tyler captured 15-lap K & K Insurance "Qualifiying" races.

Dan Drinan, injued in a crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, made his return to USAC competition at IRP, qualifying sixth-fastest in the 50-car field. He scraped the wall on lap 39 and was forced out of the race.

Rounding out the "top-10" at the finish were Davey Hamilton, Jack Hewitt, Dave Darland, Andy Michner and Pat Abold.

SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES STANDINGS

Pos Driver                          Points
------------------------------------------
 1. Kenny Irwin, Jr.		       805
 2. Jimmy Sills                        587
 3. Mike Bliss                         544
 4. Dave Darland                       460
 5. Chuck Gurney                       360
 6. Tony Stewart                       344
 7. Jack Hewitt                        274
 8. Robby Flock         	       269
 9. Dave Steele         	       265
10. Kevin Thomas        	       205

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel