USAC (PHOENIS) - NASCAR TIES STRONG IN PHOENIX' "COPPER WORLD"

Several NASCAR participants are competing in Thursday's USAC "Copper World Classic" at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway as drivers or car entrants.

Two-time Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart is fielding three Midgets to be driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Olive Branch, Miss., Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. and Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. Stenhouse currently ranks third in National Midget series points, while Jones is seventh. Hines is returning to the series after a layoff due to a motorcycle injury.

Busch Series Champion and Nextel Cup regular Carl Edwards is fielding a Silver Crown car for Cameron Dodson of Greenfield, Ind. Dodson is eighth in the latest Silver Crown points.

Nextel Cup series regular Kasey Kahne has entered a pair of Midgets, one to be driven by Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Okla, who is eighth in the National standings.

Nextel Cup series regular J.J. Yeley of Phoenix will drive for A.J. Foyt in the Silver Crown race and for Laguna Beach, Calif. car owner Steve Lewis in the Midget race.

Nextel Cup series regular Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. will drive a Midget for Columbus, Ind. car owner Keith Kunz.

Busch Series regular Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. is entered in the Silver Crown race in a car fielded by PDM Racing of Indianapolis, Ind.

Busch Series competitor Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind. will drive for Nebraska car owner Terry Klatt in the Midget race.

Busch Series competitor Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. will pilot a Midget for Columbus, Ind.'s Keith Kunz as a teammate to Ryan Newman.

Thursday's 32nd Annual "Copper World Classic" events, presented by FastSigns Southwest, include practice, followed by Midget qualifying at 2:45 pm and K & N Silver Crown qualifying at 3:45. The 25-mile Midget feature gets the green flag at 7:45 pm, followed by the 100-mile Silver Crown race at 8:30.