USAC: Drake, Yeley score Eldora wins, Look ahead to KC
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 26, 2001Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. and J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. captured Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car victories in the Eldora Speedway "Oldtimers Weekend" events Friday and Saturday nights in Rossburg, Ohio. They now look ahead to similar back-to-back events at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kans. July 6-7.
Drake, winner of 19 USAC feature races in 2000, finally notched his first 2001 Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car triumph Friday night, passing point leader Dave Darland on the 28th lap and leading the final three circuits in his WorldBestBuy.com/KECO Coatings/Hoosier Tire Gaerte/Stealth. Darland, returning to competition after sitting out last weekend's Silver Bullet race in Colorado with a leg injury, finished second, ahead of Bill Rose, Jack Hewitt and Brian Tyler.
Yeley, whose spin on Friday night started a multi-car tangle in turn one at the start of the 30-lap feature, returned to lead every lap of Saturday night's 30-lap race in his ABC Sand & Rock/GMS/Red Line Oil Snyder/Twister. Drake was second ahead of Darland, Tyler Walker and Ed Carpenter.
Yeley, Tracy Hines, Kevin Doty and Jon Stanbrough all flipped in Friday's first-lap melee. Both Stanbrough and Yeley were released after treatment at Coldwater Community Hospital.
Stanbrough (Friday) and Darland (Saturday) were the Turbines, Inc. fastest qualifiers. Defending series champion Tony Elliott missed Friday night's feature lineup, but came back to post a ninth on Saturday and slipped to fourth in the new standings as a result.
Hewitt, in an attempt to score a 46th career series victory, led the first 23 laps of Friday's race before Darland passed him. Four laps later Drake made his winning move.
STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Dave Darland 589
2. Jay Drake 566
3. J.J. Yeley 517
4. Tony Elliott 491
5. Tracy Hines 483
6. Robbie Rice 406
7. Bud Kaeding 353
8. Bill Rose 345
9. Derek Davidson 336
10. Brian Tyler 273
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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