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USAC: Fitzgerald Grabs Madera 30-Lap Sprint MCI WorldCom Event

13 April 1999

Dave Fitzgerald of Salt Lake City, Utah captured Saturday night's 30-lap USAC Western Sprint Car race in his Fitzgerald/Robinson Special, leading the final 12 laps after Ken Hamilton blew an engine.

Hamilton, father of Indy Racing League star Davey Hamilton, led the first 18 laps of the race until his engine let go. Bobby McMahan finished second ahead of defending series champion Jeff Gardner, series point leader Bud Kaeding and two-time series champion Kevin Urton.

Kaeding, winner of the series opener March 27 at Irwindale, Calif., leads Gardner by only two points going into the April 24 race at Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park. Bud was Saturday night's fastest qualifier.

Saturday night's racing program was abbreviated due to threatening weather with only qualifications preceding the feature event.

The MCI WorldCom USAC Western Midget Cars and TQ Midget Cars visit the brand-new Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway this Saturday night for a complete program of events, including a 20-lap TQ and 30-lap Midget Car feature. The TQs will compete on the 1/3-mile oval and the Midget Cars will race on the 1/2-mile.

Clay Klepper of Caruthers, Calif., with five consecutive "top-10" finishes this year, leads the 1999 MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car standings. Klepper finished fourth in the March 27 Irwindale opener.

MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Clay Klepper 114
2. Marc DeBeaumont 100
3. Jason Leffler 100
4. Dave Steele 68
5. John Starks 66
6. Tracy Hines 60
7. Shane Scully 59
8. Alex Harris 56
9. Ryan Newman 56
10. Jay Drake 56

WESTERN SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1. Bud Kaeding 129
2. Jeff Gardner 127
3. Dave Fitzgerald 121
4. Bobby McMahan 112
5. Rick Williams 95
6. Mike Boat 87
7. Rick hendrix 84
8. Billy Felts, Jr. 80
9. Kevin Urton 73
10. Ivan Worden 65

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery

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