USAC: Russ Gamester wins Silver Bullet race at Irwindale

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 25, 2001

"I told you I'd be back," said Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. in the post-race interview after winning Saturday night's "K & N Classic" 100-lap USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. Gamester won a similar race at Irwindale last October.

Russ started 20th in the 30-car field but quickly worked his way through traffic and took the lead from Aaron Fike on lap 62. He led the rest of the way in his Terre Haute First National Bank machine to claim the $9,100 first prize and emerged as the new series point leader going into a May 5 race at Nazareth, Pa.

"We made major changes to the car after qualifying," he admitted. "But I think we were better than we were last year. Now we're going to make a serious run at the championship." A late-race yellow flag bunched the field but despite a vibration in his car Russ was confident he could hold off Fike.

John Heydenreich, J.J. Yeley and Jason McCord rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag. Dave Steele led the first 13 laps before spinning out and Fike led the next 48 laps before yielding to Gamester.

Dave Darland won the Oliver Trucking pole position for the 100-lap race but slipped to 17th in the final rundown. Derek Davidson won the 15-lap "qualifying race."

Irwindale,, Calif. - Results Saturday night (March 24) from the running of the Silver Crown 100 Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Irwindale Speedway, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (20) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $9,100, 82.771 mph.
2. (3) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 100, $5,200.
3. (10) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 100, $3,400.
4. (6) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 100, $2,300.
5. (7) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 100, $2,100.
6. (8) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 100, $1,925.
7. (11) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 100, $1,800.
8. (5) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind.,100, $2,200.
9. (22) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 100, $1,600.
10. (17) Tyler Walker, Charlotte, N.C.,100, $1,500.
11. (28) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $1,450.
12. (4) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $1,375.
13. (12) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 100, $1,225.
14. (23) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 100, $1,175.
15. (9) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 100, $1,150.
16. (19) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Penn., 100, $1,125.
17. (1) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 99, $1,599.
18. (16) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 99, $1,049.
19. (2) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 98, $1,024.
20. (24) Robin Bank, Pittsburgh, Penn., 98, $998.
21. (30) Carl Edwards, Columbia, Mo., 98, $973.
22. (14) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 97, $947.
23. (29) Kevin Kierce, Reseda, Calif., 97, $922.
24. (25) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 96, $896.
25. (21) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif.,95, $870.
26. (15) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 94, $869.
27. (18) Brad Armstrong, New Palestine, Ind., 92, R.F. Tire, $867.
28. (13) Wayne Chinn, Tipp City, Ohio, 87, Accident, $862.
29. (26) Jimmy McCune, Toledo, Ohio, 66, Handling, $841.
30. (27) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Penn., 13, Power Steering, $788.

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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