USAC: Paul White wins at Springfield

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 19, 2001

Springfield, Ill. - "I gotta go to the bank," said Paul White of Temple, Texas after winning Saturday afternoon's "Tony Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

White led all 100 laps of the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race at the 1-mile dirt oval in his Builders Electric Chevy/Beast to beat Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. by four seconds.

"This is the first time I've run a coil-over car on a mile track and it felt good," White added. "I used to read about this race and always wanted to be part of it, so I'm glad I chose this series."

Series point leader Russ Gamester finished third and was followed by pole starter J.J. Yeley and Rich Tobias, Jr. Gamester emerged with a 27-point lead over White in the new standings going into the August 24-25 race at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo.

Saturday's race was slowed by only two caution flags for stalled cars as White averaged 101.290 mph. for the 100-mile distance. Yeley was the fastest race qualifier at 114.785 mph. "Qualifying races" were won by Aaron Fike and Bill Rose.

A.J. Foyt IV of Hockley, Texas was unable to start the race after flipping on his second qualifying lap in his USAC racing debut. The grandson of race Grand Marshal A.J. Foyt qualified 16th on his first lap and escaped injury when the throttle stuck on lap two and he hit the third-turn wall and flipped. His grandfather drove the pace car for Saturday's race.

Results Saturday (August 18) from the running of the "Tony Bettenhausen 100" USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (2) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 100,,$9,000, 101.290 mph.
2. (7) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 100, $4,500.
3. (9) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $3,000.
4. (1) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 100, $2,500.
5. (10) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Pa., 100, $1,800.
6. (12) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 100, $1,600.
7. (8) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $1,400.
8. (15) Robby Flock, Murrieta, Calif., 100, $1,200.
9. (21) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 99, $1,100.
10. (30) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 99, $1,000.
11. (27) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 99, $900.
12. (18) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 99, $800.
13. (28) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 99, $700.
14. (25) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 98, $600.
15. (4) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 98, $1,000.
16. (24) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 98, $500.
17. (13) Kevin Huntley, Bloomington, Ind., 98, $500.
18. (11) Ricky Shelton, Huntington Beach, Calif., 97, Gearbox, $500.
19. (17) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 95, Out of Fuel, $500.
20. (14) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 94, $500.
21. (19) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 70, Engine, $400.
22. (3) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 65, Handling, $400.
23. (23) Johnny Parsons, Indianapolis, Ind., 63, Handling, $400.
24. (26) Tom Capie, Trevose, Pa., 59, Drive Line, $400.
25. (16) Manny Rockhold, Pekin, Ill., 52, Black Flagged, $30.
26. (29) Levi Jones, Olney, Ill., 50, Oveheating, $350.
27. (5) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 26, Engine, $350.
28. (6) Roger Rager, Loon Lake, Minn., 25, Overheating, $350.
29. (20) Jackie Burke, Houston, Texas, 11, Clutch, $350.
30. (22) Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind., 8, Overheating, $350.8, Overheating, $350.

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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