USAC: Steele breaks record with Gateway win

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 28, 2001

The "Ted Horn 100" at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds this Sunday marks the beginning of a new date for the traditional Labor Day weekend Coors Light Silver Bullet Series race at the storied 1-mile dirt oval.

The 100-mile race, scheduled at 1:30 pm, could also play heavily in determining this year's series champion, with only 21 points separating new point leader Paul White of Temple, Texas and runner-up Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind.

Sunday's race will mark White's second appearance at DuQuoin. He finished 10th last year as a rookie, while Gamester, the 1997 DuQuoin winner, was fourth last year behind winner Kasey Kahne.

Practice at the Miracle Mile starts at 9 am Sunday, followed by qualifying at 10:30. A 15-mile "qualifying race" starts at 12:30 pm and the "Ted Horn 100" gets the green flag at 1:30.

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. broke the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series qualifying record and led all but 13 laps of Saturday's "Silver Crown 100" at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

"I knew we were fast but we slipped at the start because we were not good on starts," Steele commented in the post-race interview. He trailed Dave Darland for the first 13 laps before taking the lead going into turn one. Darland eventually spun while running second on lap 23 and finished a disappointing 20th.

Steele eclipsed Brad Noffsinger's ultimate series record of 143.039 mph. (set at Gateway last year) with a lap at 143.967 mph. during Friday's rain-interrupted qualifying. Oliver Trucking qualifying was completed Saturday morning.

Defending series champion Tracy Hines finished second in the 100-mile race, followed by Mike Bliss, Paul White and Brian Tyler.

White emerged as the new series point leader going into this Sunday's race at DuQuoin. Gamester was the first one out of Saturday's Gateway race with a head gasket problem.

Only three cautions slowed the race, with Steele averaging 117.101 mph in his Northside Propane Gaerte/Beast.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Paul White 439
2. Russ Gamester 418
3. Dave Steele 375
4. J.J. Yeley 355
5. Tracy Hines 335
6. Jason McCord 317
7. Ed Carpenter 311
8. Jerry Coons, Jr. 303
9. Brian Tyler 301
10. Kasey Kahne 297

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.