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USAC: Elliott, Doty, Hewitt Square Off Saturday at Eldora

23 March 1999

Defending Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car Champion Tony Elliott, defending "Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic" Champion Kevin Doty and 1998 "4-Crown Nationals" Champion Jack Hewitt are set to square off for supremacy at the 1/2-mile dirt Eldora Speedway in this Saturday night's 16th running of the race honoring two of USAC's all-time great Sprint Car drivers.

Elliott, of Kokomo, Ind., is coming off his finest season ever and will seek his first "Branson/Larson" victory Saturday. In 10 previous starts he had a third (last year) and a pair of fifths as his best showings.

Hewitt, of Troy, Ohio, swept all four "4-Crown Nationals" features last September and has more career USAC wins than anyone else (24) at Eldora. He won the "Branson/Larson" Classic" in 1982 and 1990 and has started all but one of the previous 15 runnings.

Doty's record in the "Branson/Larson" is impeccable. He won in both 1995 and 1998, his only two starts!

Saturday night's program opens the 1999 Stoops Freightliner calendar. Practice begins at 6:30 p.m. and qualifying is scheduled at 7. The first race is at 8.

Drivers will be aiming for Jimmy Sills' 1-lap track qualifying record of 117.555 mph set last May.

Other top candidates for victory already entered for Saturday night's race include 1998 series runner-up Kevin Thomas of Danville, Ind., two-time Stoops Freightliner Champion Brian Tyler of Parma, Mich., 1997 USAC Silver Crown Champion Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind., Derek Davidson of Lafayette, Ind., Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. and Ohio favorites Rusty McClure of Ashland, Jimmy Stinson of Englewood and Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge.