USAC: Eldora's 'Oldtimers Weekend' Friday and Saturday
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 19, 2001
McCORD GRABS ILLIANA FEATURE; DARLAND SUFFERS CALF INJURY
Jason McCord of Anderson, Ind. captured Wednesday night's feature event in the long-awaited return of the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series to the Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind. The victory was McCord's first this year as he led all 30 laps in his Hat World/Weidner Chevrolet Chevy/Beast.
The series now gears up for this weekend's "Oldtimers Weekend" events at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, featuring both the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars and the USAC WorldCom National Midget Cars in "doubleheaders" Friday and Saturday nights on the 1/2-mile dirt track. A 25-lap Midget Car and 30-lap Sprint Car feature are on tap each night, with practice at 6:30, qualifying at 7 and racing at 8.
Former USAC Sprint Car Champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will be the special guest for Friday night's events, while numerous former USAC participants are expected to be on hand for the weekend, including Saturday's autograph session, scheduled at about 4:30 pm. Among those expected to attend are former USAC Sprint Car Champions Gary Bettenhausen, Rollie Beale and Larry Dickson.
Derek Davidson, Brian Tyler, Aaron Fike and Jay Drake trailed McCord to the finish at Illiana Wednesday in the first USAC Sprint Car race at the 1/2-mile paved oval since 1980. Series point leader Dave Darland suffered a torn right calf muscle in a tangle with Jim Mills during the semi. Mills, who flipped, escaped injury in the incident.
Tony Elliott, who finished 14th at Illiana, trails Darland by only 13 points going into this weekend's Eldora races, while Jay Drake, the 2000 series runner-up, is only 13 points back of Elliott in third.
STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Dave Darland 460
2. Tony Elliott 447
3. Jay Drake 434
4. J.J. Yeley 430
5. Tracy Hines 406
6. Robbie Rice 332
7. Derek Davidson 294
8. Bud Kaeding 285
9. Bill Rose 249
10. Jonathan Vennard 186
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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