---

USAC: Leffler takes Irwindale; Newman nearly clinches title

19 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Courtesy: USAC

Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. captured Saturday night's 100-lap Coors Light Silver Bullet Championship race, concluding a USAC "tripleheader" on the 1/2-mile paved Irwindale Speedway oval. Leffler had previously also won the 30-lap MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car race.

"I knew Brian was coming," said Leffler after the race, referring to runner-up Brian Tyler who finished second. Tyler passed Leffler for the lead on the 72nd lap but yielded the lead back on lap 86. "I got excited when he passed me," admitted Leffler. "I got my tires hot, so I just waited a few laps and when the yellow came out my car came back and his didn't. It's nice to win here, in front of my home-town fans. They had a great crowd."

Trailing Leffler and Tyler at the checkered flag were Brad Noffsinger, Jason McCord and pole starter Ryan Newman. Newman, who led the first seven laps, emerged from the race with a 59-point lead in the series standings over Russ Gamester going into the October 31 series finale at Memphis, Tenn. A total of 66 points are available at Memphis.

Gamester ran in the "top-five" until ignition problem forced him out of the race after 74 laps.

Paul White earned the Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race" award for his ninth-place finish. Patrick Quinn won the 15-lap "qualifying race" which preceded the 100-lap feature.

Leffler averaged 91.314 mph for the 100 laps and earned $10,200.

1999 USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Ryan Newman 627
2. Russ Gamester 568
3. Jack Hewitt 516
4. Brian Tyler 501
5. Jimmy Sills 474

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.