USAC: Elliott-Drake sprint car showdown expected at Eldora
26 September 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind. will try to slow Jay Drake's bid for the all-time USAC single-season feature victory record when the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars share the spotlight in this weekend's 20th Annual "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Drake has 17 USAC feature wins this year, including 10 in the Sprint Cars, but Elliott has a 23-point lead in the battle for the 2000 series championship over Drake with just two races remaining on the calendar. The series concludes October 22 at Winchester, Ind.
Elliott is a two-time "4-Crown" Sprint Car winner (1987 and 1993), but both have won races at Eldora this year. Dave Darland, last year's Stoops Freightliner Champion, also owns a 2000 Eldora feature victory and is expected to offer a major challenge this weekend.
The "4-Crown" timetable calls for preliminary events on Friday, with all four features on Saturday. Practice on Friday commences at 6:30 pm and Friday's racing program includes four eight-lap heat races for the Sprint Cars. On Saturday night, the first race starts at 7:30 pm and the Sprint Cars will compete in a 12-lap True Value semi.
The Coors Light Silver Bullet Series, MCI WorldCom Midget Car Series and UMP Modifieds share the "4-Crown" spotlight with the Sprint Cars. Saturday night's events conclude with a 25-lap Midget Car, 30-lap Sprint Car, 50-lap Silver Bullet and 40-lap Modified feature event.
USAC STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Tony Elliott 1,245
2. Jay Drake 1,222
3. Tracy Hines 1,078
4. J.J. Yeley 1,031
5. Derek Davidson 999
6. Dave Darland 887
7. Bud Kaeding 852
8. Eric Gordon 813
9. Brian Tyler 727
10. Jonathan Vennard 628
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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