USAC: Smoker, Newman & Rain Garner MCI WorldCom Headlines

22 June 1999

ANDERSON FEATURE RESUMES JUNE 30

Ron Smoker of Hamburg, N.Y. and Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. earned MCI WorldCom USAC National Midget Car feature victories in last week's action, but rain forced postponement of a third scheduled feature race.

Wednesday night's "Thomson Indiana 40" at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway was halted after just two laps with Brian Gerster leading and it will be resumed with 38 laps remaining on Wednesday night, June 30.

Smoker led all 40 laps in his Parker Machinery Gaerte to win Saturday night's race at the 16th Street Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. and Newman led the final 19 laps on Sunday's Wal-Mart "Father's Day Classic" at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway in his C.E. Lewis Racing/Drinan Brayton.

Jason Leffler, who led the first 11 laps at Salem, finished second there and third at 16th Street to emerge with a four-point lead over Newman in the new MCI WorldCom standings going into the resumption of the Anderson race.

Smoker leads the 16th Street Speedway standings going into this Saturday night's 30-lap race at the 1/4-mile dirt track.

Trailing Smoker at 16th Street were Critter Malone, Leffler, Rick Treadway and Roger McCluskey, Jr., while Newman and Leffler were chased to the finish at Salem by Tony Ave, Ricky Shelton and Tracy Hines.

Ricky Shelton (16th Street) and Jay Drake (Salem) earned fast qualifying honors, while lady driver Sarah McCune turned in a spectacular performance out-qualifying the 53-car field for Wednesday night's Anderson event.

Drake's Salem qualifying time erased a 9-year-old Jerr Gordon record and Newman's feature time was over a minute and a half faster than the late Don Branson's 38-year-old record!

MCI WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Jason Leffler 158 6. Dave Steele 80
2. Ryan Newman 154 7. Jay Drake 70
3. Ricky Shelton 146 8. John Heydenreich 67
4. Tracy Hines 99 9. Ron Smoker 64
5. Jerry Coons, Jr. 90 10. Clay Klepper 63

16TH STREET SPEEDWAY USAC MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Ron Smoker 95 6. Andy Pierce 40
2. Critter Malone 57 Roger McCluskey, Jr. 40
3. Steve Knepper 51 8. Roy Caruthers 39
4. Jason Leffler 49 John Wolfe 39
5. Jerry Coons, Jr. 48 10. Ricky Shelton 33

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.