USAC: Carpenter Scores Initial USAC Win in Louisville 30-Lapper
18 May 1999
MCI WORLDCOM MIDGET CARS INVADE KOKOMO SPEEDWAY SUNDAYEd Carpenter of Indianapolis, Ind. earned his first-ever USAC feature victory in Saturday night's 30-lap MCI WorldCom Midget Car race at the Louisville (Ky.) Motor Speedway. He led all 30 laps around the 7/16-mile paved oval after starting on the pole in his Glidden Paints/Menards/Clabber Girl/Oliver Trucking Gaerte.
Carpenter will try to back up his pavement win with one on dirt this Sunday night as the series returns to the Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway for the "Kokomo Midget Car Classic," which was rained out April 24. A 40-lap feature is on tap at the 1/4-mile oval following practice at 5 pm, qualifying at 6 and preliminary races, beginning at 7.
Closely trailing Carpenter in the "Pronto Auto Parts" race at Louisville were Brian Gerster, who won the Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car race there 10 days earlier, Jimmy McCune, John Heydenreich and Jerry Coons, Jr. Gerster set a new track record during qualifying.
Defending MCI WorldCom USAC National Midget Car Champion Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. continues to lead the series standings after finishing seventh at Louisville. He has a 19-point lead over Ryan Newman going into this Sunday's race at Kokomo.
MCI WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS 1. Jason Leffler 61 6. Jerry Coons, Jr. 27 2. Ryan Newman 42 7. Dave Steele 27 3. Brian Gerster 37 8. John Heydenreich 26 4. Ed Carpenter 35 9. Jimmy McCune 25 5. Ricky Shelton 30 10. Tony Ave 20
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