USAC: More than 60 entries recieved for Copper World Silver Bullet race

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 13, 2001

A new record for Coors Light Silver Bullet Series cars could be established this weekend when the 2001 series opens at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway as part of the Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200.

Sixty cars are already listed among preliminary entries and the all-time series record for attendees stands at 61, which occurred at Phoenix in 1996.

Sunday's 100-mile Silver Bullet race climaxes a four-day timetable of USAC activity in conjunction with the Indy Racing Northern Light Series 200-mile race, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the desert mile. USAC's WorldCom National and Western Midget Cars and the Supermodified Racing League are also on the card for what promises to be a unique weekend of racing.

USAC's three defending National Champions - Tracy Hines, Tony Elliott and Kasey Kahne - are all slated to compete in the Silver Bullet opener. Hines, of New Castle, Ind., won last year's Silver Bullet championship, while, Elliott, of Kokomo, Ind., was the 2000 USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Champion. Kahne, of Enumclaw, Wash., dominated last year's WorldCom National Midget Car Series.

Drivers will challenge Jason Leffler's 1-lap track qualifying mark of 140.806 mph during Saturday time trials. Brad Noffsinger of Concord, N.C. will be out to surpass his all-time series qualifying mark of 143.093 mph set last year at Madison, Ill. Silver Bullet practice is slated Friday and Sunday's 100-mile race gets the green flag at 11 am, prior to the 2 pm Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 IRL feature.

Drivers to watch in the Silver Bullet event include Tyler Walker of Charlotte, N.C., who will make his first series start for the Johnny Vance Racing Team, plus West coast hotshoes Cory Kruseman, Bobby McMahan, Jerry Coons, Jr., Bud Kaeding, Ricky Shelton, Wally Pankratz, Ronnie Day, Davey Hamilton and Jay Drake.

Hamilton is the only driver expected to compete in all four divisions of this year's Pennzoil Copper World Indy 2000, while Drake will try to resume the incredible winning streak of 2000 which saw him tie A.J. Foyt and Sleepy Tripp's all-time USAC single-season victory record of 19.

The 60 preliminary Coors Light Silver Bullet entries represent drivers from 17 states and cars with 15 different chassis makes.

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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