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USAC: Drake wins 'Heros of Sprint Car Racing Classic' at Tri-City

9 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SPRINT CARS HEAD FOR HAWKEYE DOWNS IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. captured Saturday night's "Heroes of Sprint Car Racing Classic" Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car race at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. The race was presented by the Knoxville National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.

Drake's victory left him in sixth place in the new series standings going into this Friday night's race at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Ia. A 30-lap feature is scheduled at the 1/2-mile paved oval where Jason McCord was victorious last year. Practice starts at 5:30 pm, with qualifying at 6:30 and racing at 7:30.

Drake caught Bill Rose on the 16th lap at Granite City and led the final 15 circuits on the 1/2-mile dirt track in his Willoughby/KECO Coatings/Hoosier Tire Stealth. Jack Hewitt finished second ahead of Tony Elliott, Kasey Kahne and Danny Smith as Rose slipped to sixth. Drake was also the Turbines, Inc. fastest qualifier with a new track record of 21.080 seconds and won his heat race. Other heats went to Elliott, J.J. Yeley and Smith.

Defending Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Champion Dave Darland flipped over the guardrail in turn three during practice but competed in another car the rest of the night. Kevin Doty also escaped injury in a practice session flip.

Elliott, the 1998 Stoops Freightliner Champion, is the new series point leader after his third-place finish at Granite City. He leads Derek Davidson (12th Saturday) by three points going into Saturday's events at Cedar Rapids.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tony Elliott 252
2. Derek Davidson 249
3. Eric Gordon 228
4. J.J. Yeley 225
5. Dave Darland 209
6. Jay Drake 202
7. Jack Hewitt 200
8. Tracy Hines 199
9. Brian Tyler 185
10. Jonathan Vennaard 172

Text provided by Dick Jordan

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.