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USAC: Russ Gamester captures Coors Light Silver Bullet pole in Memphis

29 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Memphis, Tenn.--Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind., captured his sixth USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet pole position Saturday afternoon, taking the top starting spot for Sunday's "Memphis 100" at Memphis Motorsports Park. He averaged 126.351 mph. in his Terre Haute First National Bank Special for his first pole of the year and will share the front row with Derek Davidson of Lafayette, Ind. in Sunday's 100-lap race.

"I didn't expect the first lap to be that fast but I really hustled it the second lap. Even then, we were a little slower than during the morning practice. Turns thre and four were a little bit greasy. I think all 30 starters have a chance to win this race. If I have to fall back early, I'm more than happy to do that if I can get a late run going."

Series title contenders Dave Darland, Tracy Hines and Brian Tyler will start 13th, 6th and 8th respectively. Darland leads Hines by just five points and Tyler by 48 with 63 available in Sunday's series finale.

Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio won Saturday's 15-lap "qualifying race" with a late pass of Pat Abold.

Memphis, Tenn. - Results Saturday afternoon (October 28) from qualifications for the October 29 Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Memphis Motorsports Park, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown and speed:

1. (51) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 21.369 second,s 126.351 mph.
2. (25) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 126.097 mph.
3. (19) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 126.003 mph.
4. (67) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 125.927 mph.
5. (4) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 125.803 mph..
6. (37) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 125.692 mph.
7. (27) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 125.528 mph.
8. (69) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 125.348 mph.
9. (29) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 125.121 mph.
10. (40) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 125.092 mph.
11. (1) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 125.086 mph.
12. (7) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 125.081 mph.
13. (56) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 124.792 mph.
14. (26) Bobby McMahan, Rio Linda, Calif., 124.682 mph.
15. (9) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 124.412 mph.
16. (47) Billy Whitaker, Central Square, N.Y., 124.126 mph.
17. (44) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 123.819 mph.
18. (80) Robby Flock, Murrieta, Calif., 123.717 mph.
19. (99) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 123.643 mph.
20. (20) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 122.962 mph.
21. (41) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 122.850 mph.
22. (77) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 122.571 mph.
23. (93) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 122.072 mph.
24. (110) Mike Ordway, Freemont, N.H., 122.039 mph.
25. (23) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, Winner, qualifying race.
26. (01) Pat Abold, Pennellville, N.Y., 2nd in qualifying race.
27. (92) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 3rd in qualifying race.
28. (100) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 4th in qualifying race.
29. (74) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Pa., 5th in qualifying race.
30. (11) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 6th in qualifying race.

Text Provided By Dick Jordan

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