USAC: Gamester repeats at Irwindale 'K & N Classic'

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 27, 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." USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Russ Gamester 99
2. Jason McCord 96
3. Paul White 90
4. Kasey Kahne 78
5. Dave Steele 75
6. Tony Elliott 73
7. Dane Carter 71
8. J.J. Yeley 68
9. Dave Darland 67
10. Ed Carpenter 65

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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