USAC: Kahne Wins Silver Bullet Race at IRP

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 3, 2001

Indianapolis, Ind. - Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw, Wash. captured Thursday night's "J.D. Byrider 100" at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race opened the track's Kroger SpeedFest, a three-night program leading into Sunday's "Brickyard 400" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The victory was the first for Kahne in pavement Silver Bullet racing and the second in USAC racing this week. He won Tuesday night's USAC Midget race at Lincoln, Neb. and scored his initial Silver Bullet win on the dirt in last year's 100-miler at DuQuoin, Ill.

NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart, making a rare USAC Silver Bullet appearance, lasted only nine laps before his car overheated and retired, but he made it to victory lane anyway as a co-owner of the winning car with Bob East.

"It takes a lot to win one of these Silver Bullet races," said Kahne after the 100-miler. The competition is so intense, but I enjoy it every lap. I watched Tyler for about 10 straight laps before I made my move and figured out what line he was running. He was good in traffic. He could go anywhere through traffic a little better than me."

Kahne averaged 106.768 mph. in the race, slowed only by one caution flag when Dane Carter spun and hit the wall in turn one on the 23rd lap. Tyler won the pole starting spot with a speed of 117.700 mph. and "qualifying races" went to John Heydenreich and Derek Davidson.

Results Thursday (August 2) from the running of the "J.D. Byrider 100" USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (9) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 100, $9,100, 106.768 mph.
2. (1) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 100, $5,200.
3. (3) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 100, $3,350.
4. (7) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 100, $2,200.
5. (5) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 100, $2,050.
6. (8) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 100, $2,400.
7. (6) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 99, $1,849.
8. (15) P.J. Jones, Cornelius, N.C., 99, $1,749.
9. (2) Tyler Walker, Charlotte, N.C., 99, $1,649.
10. (4) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 99, $1,549.
11. (11) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 99, $1,449.
12. (10) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 99, $1,399.
13. (17) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 99, $1,349.
14. (22) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 99, $1,299.
15. (30) Jonathan Vennard, Vincennes, Ind., 99, $1,249.
16. (28) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 99, $1,199.
17. (20) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 99, $1,149.
18. (19) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 98, $1,098.
19. (14) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 98, $1,073.
20. (24) Carl Edwards, Columbia, Mo., 98, $1,048.
21. (13) Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Calif., 98, $1,023.
22. (25) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 96, $996.
23. (29) Tom Capie, Browns Mills, N.J., 95, $970.
24. (21) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 84, Handling, $934.
25. (18) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 64, Overheating, $889.
26. (26) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Pa., 60, Handling, $860.
27. (23) Mike Bliss, Charlotte, N.C., 12, Handling, $812.
28. (16) Tony Stewart, Rushville, Ind., 10, Overheating, $810.
29. (27) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 2, Suspension, $802.
DQ (12) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 0, Disqualified.

Average Speed: 106.768 mph
Time of Race: 38:33.06
Caution Flags: 1 for 6 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Tyler 1-81, Kahne 82-100.

Fastest Qualifier: Brian Tyler - 20.982 seconds - 117.700 mph.
Qualifying Race Winners: (10 laps) John Heydenreich & Derek Davidson

Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1-Gamester-361; 2-White-325; 3-Steele-294; 4-McCord-263; 5-Kahne-258; 6-Yeley-256; 7-Hines-255; 8-Tyler-253; 9-Carpenter-236; 10-Darland-224.

Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: August 18 - Springfield, Ill. - Illinois State Fairgrounds - "Tony Bettenhausen 100"

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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