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USAC: Paden, Wise Star in Irwindale Features, Keading Eyes Carson City Jackpot Saturday

6 July 1999

Steve Paden of Downey, Calif. and Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. scored "Western" USAC MCI WorldCom feature victories in Saturday night's "doubleheader' program at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway but Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. will be the man to beat in this Saturday night's USAC Western Sprint Car events at the Silver State Raceway in Carson City, Nev.

Kaeding, who has won three of the six races so far in this year's Western Sprint slate, has a 64-point lead over Rick Williams of San Leandro, Calif., the series' most recent winner at Tucson, Ariz. A 40-lap feature tops the schedule of events at the 1/3-mile paved Carson City oval.

Paden scored his first 1999 MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car victory at Irwindale, leading the final 22 laps in his Anglemeyer Crane Rental/Decore Plating Ford after passing defending series champion Rick Hendrix on the ninth lap of the 30-lap race at the 1/2-mile paved track. Series point leader Marc DeBeaumont finished second ahead of Bobby Boone, Hendrix and Jimmy Sills. Fast qualifier Tracy Hines encountered engine woes and failed to finish the event.

Wise, the fastest MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Car qualifier in his Suzuki-powered machine, also grabbed the lead on the ninth lap of his 20-lap race, passing Greg Edenholm, who finished second. Jim Styer, series point leader Randi Pankratz and West Evans rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag. 

MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Marc DeBeaumont 350 6. Steve Paden 178
2. Shane Scully 283 7. Rick Hendrix 154
3. Alex Harris 271 8. Jimmy Sills 138
4. Bobby Boone 188 9. Jason Leffler 133
5. Wally Pankratz 185 10. Billy Felts, Jr. 115

MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Randi Pankratz 166 6. West Evans 86
2. Joshua Wise 160 7. Ron Wade 86
3. Greg Edenholm 147 8. Gene Godepski 85
4. Walt Johnson 112 9. Tony Villelli 79
5. Todd Hunsaker 97 10. Kevin Wybenga 76

WESTERN SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1. Bud Kaeding 403 6. Curtis Brown 255
2. Rick Williams 339 7. Dave Fitzgerald 230
3. Bobby McMahan 306 8. Mike Boat 222
4. Rick Hendrix 303 9. Kevin Urton 208
5. Jeff Gardner 278 10. Tony Hunt 207

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