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USAC/IRL: Tough day for Indy Racing Standouts at 'Copper World Classic'

8 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
PHOENIX- A handful of current Indy Racing League drivers encountered tough times Sunday during the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway, one of the most prestigious, diversified events in the country.

Rookie Jon Herb was the only current Indy Racing driver to compete in two features at the four-race event, which consists of a USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series feature, a USAC MCI WorldCom Midget feature, a NASCAR Southwest Tour feature and a supermodified feature.

Herb finished 19th in the 50-lap Silver Bullet Series feature, one lap behind winner Jason Leffler. Herb was 20th in the MCI WorldCom Midget feature on the 1-mile oval, won by 1996-97 Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart.

Herb made his Indy Racing debut last month with Jonathan Byrd-McCormack Motorsports at the Delphi Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway.

Indy Racing veteran Donnie Beechler finished 30th in the Silver Bullet Series feature, completing only nine of 50 laps due to engine problems. Other finishers in the Silver Bullet feature with career Indy Racing starts besides Beechler and Herb included winner Leffler, second-place Brian Tyler, 11th-place J.J. Yeley and 23rd-place Jack Hewitt. Ken Hamilton, father of Indy Racing standout Davey Hamilton, finished 27th.

1998 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Billy Boat finished 24th in the MCI WorldCom Midget feature, racing at his home track. Other drivers in the Midget feature with career Indy Racing starts besides Boat and Herb included winner Stewart, 11th-place Ronnie Johncox, 17th-place Tyler, 18th-place Andy Michner and 21st-place Leffler.

Stewart finished fifth in the supermodified feature after starting from the pole. Indianapolis 500 veteran Joe Gosek finished third in the race, won for the third consecutive year by Troy Regier.

Text Provided by USAC

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