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USAC: Jack Hewitt gets 22nd victory in Coors Light Silver Bullet Series

18 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

TERRE HAUTE, IN: Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio drove his Utility Peterbilt/Print Express/Dellen Family Chevy to victory in Friday night's Pepsi "Sumar Classic 100" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, leading the final 11 laps after J.J. Yeley blew an engine while leading.

Hewitt was the fourth race leader and the victory was a record 22nd for him in the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series. He finished a couple of car lengths ahead of Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind. Jimmy Sills of Placerville, Calif., Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge, Ohio and pole starter Brad Noffsinger of Concord, N.C. rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag.

Wilson was awarded the Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race" Award for his fourth-place finish.

Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. regained the series point lead going into next Saturday night's 50-lap "4-Crown Nationals" feature at Rossburg, Ohio. He leads Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. by 21 points after finishing eighth at Terre Haute. Gamester spun on the 78th lap of the race and wound up 19th.

"Everybody will be gunning for me next week," said Hewitt after his win. "The track was great tonight. It felt good to win one. I'd like to dedicate this race to one of my old car owners, Ralph DePalma, who passed away last night. I was faster that J.J. (Yeley) but wasn't sure I could get him."

Noffsinger led the first 28 laps, then defending race winner Tony Elliott led the next 30. Yeley then led through lap 89 before his engine let go.

Terre Haute, Ind. - Results Friday night (September 17) from the running of the Pepsi "Sumar Classic 100" Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at the Terre Haute Action Track, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (3) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 100, $9,150, 53.600 mph.
2. (7) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $4,800.
3. (9) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 100, $3,375.
4. (23) Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, Ohio, 100, $3,000.
5. (1) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 100, $2,000.
6. (4) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $1,800.
7. (15) Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, 100, $1,600.
8. (21) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 100, $1,500.
9. (20) Brad Fox, Avon, Ind., 100, $1,350.
10. (13) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 100, $1,250.
11. (8) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 100, $1,125.
12. (12) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 100, $1,100.
13. (22) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 100, $1,075.
14. (10) Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Calif., 100, $1,050.
15. (16) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $1,025.
16. (25) Craig Dori, Lafayette, Ind., 100, $1,000.
17. (17) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 99, $975.
18. (24) Tom Capie, Trevose, Pa., 99, $950.
19. (5) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 98, $925.
20. (26) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 97, $900.
21. (2) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 88, $875, Engine.
22. (19) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 78, $1,350, Drive Line.
23. (14) Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind., 48, $825, Drive Line.
24. (6) Donnie Beechler, Springfield, Ill., 39, $800, Engine.
25. (11) Rick Treadway, Indianapolis, Ind., 16, $775, Handling.
26. (18) Johnny Parsons, Indianapolis, Ind., 3, $750, Carburetion.

Average Speed: 53.600 mph
Time of Race: . 55:58.18
Caution Flags: 11 for 55 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Noffsinger 1-28, Elliott 29-58, Yeley 59-89; Hewitt 90-100.
Fastest Qualifier: Brad Noffsinger - 20.360 seconds -- 88.408 mph.
Qualifying Race Winner: (15 laps) Brian Tyler.
Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1- Newman-501; 2-Gamester-480;
3-Tyler-396; 4-Hewitt-393; 5-Hines-370; 6-Darland-366; 7-Elliott-316;
8-Sills-303; 9-Yeley-300; 10-Leffler-264.
Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: September 24-25 - Rossburg, OH -
Eldora Speedway - 19th "4-Crown Nationals"

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