ASA: Butch Miller Holds Lead Heading into Hawkeye Downs Opener

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 18, 2001

Joey Clanton only 17 points back following perfect weekend in Virginia

PEDNLETON, Ind. -- Heading into the April 28 Iowa 300 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Butch Miller saw his point lead drop to just 17 points following a ninth place finish at South Boston Speedway and 2000 Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year , Joey Clanton, become his closest challenger. Clanton jumped from third to second in the points following a near perfect weekend during the Textilease Medique 300, where he was the quickest in practice, qualifying and lead flag-to-flag, the first time suc h a feat has been accomplished in ASA since 1996.

Miller and Clanton head into the first of two races this season at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with separate hot streaks. Miller has qualified in the top-five the last three events, including two poles, and has not finished outside of the top-10 all season long, collecting two podium and two ninth place finishes. Clanton, following his dominating weekend in South Boston, has two victories, one pole and three top-four finishes.

Another ASA veteran driver, Scott Hansen, dropped to third in the point. He had held the second position since the season-opening race at St. Augustine Speedway in St. Augustine, Fla. Hansen, who has never won an ASA Championship, has also collected three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up performance in St. Augustine.

LaFavre Racing teammates Kevin Cywinski and Mike Garvey round out the top five, with Garvey taking a victory in the season’s third race at Lakeland, Fla. The only other driver to take the checkers in 2001, Gary St. Amant, who won at Irwindale Speedway, sit s sixth in the points. Scott Fraser, who is seventh in the overall point standings, continues to lead the Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year standings over Chris Wimmer, Tim Jedrzejek and Johnny Sauter.

ASA ACDelco Series Point Standings After 3 of 20 events:

Pos. Driver, Points
1. Butch Miller, 687
2. Joey Clanton, 670
3. Scott Hansen, 651
4. Kevin Cywinski, 633
5. Mike Garvey, 631
6. Gary St. Amant, 621
7. Scott Fraser, 599
8. Mike Miller, 596
9. Chris Wimmer, 533
10. Tim Taylor, 516

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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