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USAC: Win or worry is Darland's Memphis option

21 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

"It's Now or Never" for Dave Darland, Tracy Hines and Brian Tyler in their quest for this year's USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Championship!

Darland, of Kokomo, Ind. will win his second series driving championship if he wins the October 29 "Memphis 100" series finale at Memphis Motorsports Park. Anything less and he is at the mercy of Hines' performance in the 100-lap event. Tyler also harbors championship potential but needs DNFs for both Darland and Hines or the deficit will be "Too Much" to overcome.

A victory at Memphis would lock up the championship for Darland, since Hines could not earn enough points, even with the pole and most-laps-led bonuses, to surpass him in the standings. Hines needs a victory and both the pole and most-laps-led bonus to win him the title outright. Anything less and the door then swings back open for Darland!

Actually, there are so many scenarios at Memphis, the standings could be "All Shook Up" before the checkered flag falls.

All three drivers are asking the 3/4-mile paved oval "Don't Be Cruel" and to "Treat Me Nice" as they "Follow That Dream" of becoming the 2000 champion. One hopes he can stand in victory lane after the "Memphis 100" and proclaim "I Was the One."

Preliminaries are scheduled for Saturday, October 28, with practice from 9-9:55 am and 11-11:25 am. Qualifying is slated at 3 pm and a 15-lap "qualifying race" at 5 pm will complete the 30-car starting field for Sunday's (October 29) 3 pm feature. Dave Steele set the 1-lap qualifying record of 129.789 mph two years ago.

Total prize money of over $80,000 has been posted and the "Memphis 100" winner will earn a paycheck in the amount of $15,500 plus contingencies.

Darland won the 1997 Silver Bullet championship, while Hines is seeking his first USAC title and Tyler won USAC Sprint Car championships in 1996 and 1997.

The "Memphis 100" is scheduled for live telecast on TNN, starting at 4 pm (ET).

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 551
2. Tracy Hines 546
3. Brian Tyler 503
4. J.J. Yeley 445
5. Brad Noffsinger 441
6. Tony Elliott 432
7. John Heydenreich 424
8. Russ Gamester 396
9. Jack Hewitt 364
10. Kasey Kahne 355

Text Provided By Dick Jordan

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