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USAC: Smoker takes 16th Street title as Ted Hines wins finale

21 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Ron Smoker of Hamburg, N.Y. shared the spotlight with Ted Hines of Indianapolis, Ind. as the 16th Street Speedway USAC Midget Car series concluded its 1999 campaign Saturday afternoon at the 1/4-mile dirt track in Indianapolis, Ind.

Smoker claimed the season championship in a strange final day of racing which saw he and Critter Malone struggle with ill-handling cars throughout the program. Smoker finished with a seven-point margin over Malone in the final points tally after they finished 10th and 11th respectively in the 30-lap finale. Both drivers appeared headed for the sidelines during the feature but both were able to restart, although Malone subsequently retired from competition and Smoker was the last car running at the end!

Hines led the first six laps of the race, lost the lead to John Wolfe for five laps, regained it for three, then lost it again to defending track champion Michael Lang on lap 15. Lang appeared headed for victory until lap 25 when a flat tire sent him to the infield allowing Hines to lead the final six laps in his Model Mold Machine/Wheeler Truck Body Brayton.

Andy Pierce, Roger McCluskey, Jr., Jerry Zike and Bill Baue completed the "top-five" in the final race of the series. Randy Koch was the day's fastest qualifier, while John Sluss, Pierce, Roy Caruthers and Malone won heats. Baue won the Kelly's Pub II "last call" semi.

FINAL USAC 16TH STREET SPEEDWAY MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Ron Smoker 193 6. Steve Knepper 108
2. Critter Malone 186 7. Michael Lang 86
3. Andy Pierce 171 8. Rick Vaughn 84
4. John Wolfe 155 9. Roger McCluskey, Jr. 82
5. Roy Caruthers 113 10. Jason Leffler 82

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