USAC: Leffler Leads MCI WorldCom Midget Cars to Winchester

13 April 1999

Defending MCI WorldCom USAC National Midget Car Champion Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. leads a contingent of USAC Midget Car veterans into this Sunday afternoon's racing program at the Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, the debut 1999 appearance in the midwest for the MCI WorldCom stars.

Leffler won the series opening "Copper World Classic" at Phoenix, Ariz. in February and holds a nine-point lead over Ryan Newman in the early standings. He'll be out to improve on last year's Winchester Midget Car finishes of seventh and 10th.

Drivers will shoot for Dan Drinan's 1-lap track qualifying record of 14.718 seconds (122.299 mph), set four years ago, when qualifying gets under way at 1 pm. Practice begins at 12 noon and racing is set for 2. A 30-lap feature caps the program.

Leffler's challengers Sunday will include former MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car Champion Jay Drake, 1998 Indianapolis Speedrome Midget Car Champion John Sluss, 1998 National Midget Car "Rookie of the Year" Michael Lewis, 1998 Sprint Car "Rookie of the Year" Tracy Hines, Indianapolis 500 "rookie" Ronnie Johncox, "Thunder in the Dome XV" Champion Kevin Besecker and a host of others.

MCI WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Jason Leffler 38
2. Ryan Newman 29
3. Dave Steele 27
4. Ricky Shelton 27
5. Dave Darland 19
6. Tracy Hines 19
7. Andy Michner 15
8. Steve Barth 11
9. A.J. Fike 9
10. John Nervo 8

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