USAC: Steele takes Pikes Peak Silver Bullet '100'

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 19, 2001

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. captured Sunday's 100-mile USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo. It was Dave's third victory in the series, having won at Memphis, Tenn. in 1998 and Indianapolis, Ind. in 1999.

"We really needed this win," Steele admitted in victory lane. "I was fortunate to unload the car pretty good but it surprised me that the car was good the whole race. I just tried to keep the tires on it."

Steele started alongside pole starter Dane Carter and trailed Carter for the first 15 laps, then led the final 85 miles in his Northside Propane Gaerte/Beast. He finished about six seconds ahead of Aaron Fike of Galesburg, Ill., while Carter, of Brownsburg, Ind., took third. The finishes matched the career bests for both Fike and Carter. Bentley Warren and Bobby McMahan rounded out the "top-five" at the finish.

Brian Tyler and defending series champion Tracy Hines chased Steele in the closing laps but both fell victim to mechanical trouble. Tyler lost an engine five laps from the checkered flag and Hines had a tire go down at the same time.

Steele's team earned $17,300 from the total purse of $87,748. He averaged 106.745 mph for the 100 miles.

Series point leader Paul White was forced out of the race with engine trouble after just 15 laps, allowing Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind., who finished seventh, to regain the series lead going into the June 29-30 race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Carter established a new qualifying record of 142.062 mph during Saturday qualifying and P.J. Jones won Saturday's 15-mile qualifying race.

The series now prepares for the June 29-30 "Dominic's of New York 100" at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Russ Gamester 271
2. Paul White 235
3. Dave Steele 210
4. Ed Carpenter 202
5. Kasey Kahne 198
6. J.J. Yeley 197
7. Tracy Hines 196
8. Dave Darland 185
9. Jason McCord 183
10. Brian Tyler 180

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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