USAC: Paul White takes 'Tony Bettenhausen 100'

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 21, 2001

"I gotta go to the bank," said Paul White of Temple, Texas after winning Saturday afternoon's "Tony Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. White hopes to make another trip to the bank this weekend when the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series visits Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. as part of the track's "Gateway Indy 250" Indy Racing League weekend.

White led all 100 laps at the 1-mile dirt oval in his Builders Electric Chevy/Beast to beat Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. by four seconds.

"This is the first time I've run a coil-over car on a mile track and it felt good," White added. "I used to read about this race and always wanted to be part of it, so I'm glad I chose this series."

Series point leader Russ Gamester finished third and was followed by pole starter J.J. Yeley and Rich Tobias, Jr. Gamester emerged with a 27-point lead over White in the new standings.

Saturday's race was slowed by only two caution flags for stalled cars as White averaged 101.290 mph. for the 100-mile distance. Yeley was the fastest race qualifier at 114.785 mph. "Qualifying races" were won by Aaron Fike and Bill Rose.

A.J. Foyt IV of Hockley, Texas was unable to start the race after flipping on his second qualifying lap in his USAC racing debut. The grandson of race Grand Marshal A.J. Foyt qualified 16th on his first lap and escaped injury when the throttle stuck on lap two and he hit the third-turn wall and flipped. His grandfather drove the pace car for Saturday's race.

This weekend's Gateway International Raceway timetable includes USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet practice from 8:30-9:30 am and 12:30-1:15 pm Friday. Qualifying is scheduled at 2:30 pm Friday, followed by a 15-lap qualifying race at 5 pm. Saturday morning's practice period is slated from 8:15-8:45 am, with the 80-lap (100 mile) race getting the green flag at 2:45 pm.

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. is the defending race winner and series champion, while Brad Noffsinger of Concord, N.C. is the one-lap track record holder. Noffsinger set an ultimate series record at 143.093 during qualifying last year.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Russ Gamester 415
2. Paul White 388
3. J.J. Yeley 310
4. Dave Steele 309
5. Jason McCord 294
6. Tracy Hines 278
7. Jerry Coons, Jr., 276
8. Dave Darland 270
9. Ed Carpenter 269
10. Kasey Kahne 258

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.