USAC: 'Trifecta' at IRP would make Gamester number 5

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 9, 2001

It hasn't happened in 15 years! No driver has been able to string together three consecutive victories in the tough Coors Light Silver Bullet Series since Jack Hewitt in 1986!

A victory in Saturday night's "Coca-Cola 100" at Indianapolis Raceway Park would make Russ Gamester only the fifth driver in the 31-year history of the series to accomplish the "trifecta."

Russ won March 24 at Irwindale, Calif. and last Saturday at Nazareth, Pa. and is the defending Silver Bullet winner at IRP as well, having won last year's August race at the .686-mile paved oval. He leads the 2001 series standings by 23 points over Kasey Kahne going into Saturday night's race.

Mario Andretti was the first to win three straight, with victories at Sedalia, Mo., Springfield, Ill. and DuQuoin, Ill. in 1974. Tom Bigelow claimed four straight in 1975 and 1976 at DuQuoin,.St. Paul, Minn., the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Springfield. In 1985 Rick Hood was victorious at IRP, Oklahoma City, Okla. and Parkersburg, W.V., the Hewitt claimed four straight in 1986 at Springfioeld, DuQuoin, the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Practice at IRP starts at 4:30 pm and qualifying begins at 5:45. A 15-lap "qualifying race" precedes the "Coca-Cola 100" 100-lap feature.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Russ Gamester 159
2. Kasey Kahne 136
3. Paul White 126
4. Jason McCord 123
5. Dave Steele 120
6. John Heydenreich 112
7. Brian Tyler 108
8. Ed Carpenter 107
9. Dave Darland 98
10. A.J. Fike 96

Text provided by Dick Jordan

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.