USAC: Steele grabs Anderson Sprint 50
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 21, 2001Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. won Friday night's 50-lap Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car race at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway and appears to be a top threat for victory when the series returns to the Illiana Speedway in Schererville, Ind. this Wednesday.
The Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars are gearing up for a busy week, with the "Bob Wente Classic", presented by the Indy Racing League, at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights, including the WorldCom Midget Cars as part of the "doubleheader" weekend on the 1/2-mile dirt track.
Steele caught Jeff Bloom on the ninth lap and led the rest of the way in his Northside Propane/Lamers/Hoosier Tire Gaerte/Beast. Eric Gordon finished second ahead of Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier Dave Darland, J.J. Yeley and Jonathan Vennard. Darland emerged from the Anderson race with a 103-point lead over Jay Drake, who finished seventh in Friday night's race.
Practice at Illiana Motor Speedway's 1/2-mile paved oval Wednesday starts at 4:30 pm, with qualifying scheduled at 5:30 and racing at 7. A 30-lap feature caps the program of events. Tracy Hines holds the 1-lap track qualifying record at 18.149 seconds but Jason McCord won the June 13 Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car race there.
The inaugural "Bob Wente Classic" at Tri-City Speedway Friday and Saturday honors the memory of USAC's 1963 National Midget Champion who amassed the third-largest total of Midget Car feature victories in USAC history - 78. Practice at the Granite City track starts at 7 pm Friday, with qualifying at 8. Qualifications and preliminary heat races are scheduled on Friday, with semis and 30-lap feature events for both Sprint Cars and Midget Cars slated Saturday. Saturday's practice starts at 7 pm and the first race is at 8.
STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Dave Darland 1,195 2. Jay Drake 1,092 3. J.J. Yeley 1,083 4. Tony Elliott 1,006 5. Tracy Hines 873 6. Bud Kaeding 787 7. Derek Davidson 717 8. Robbie Rice 700 9. Bill Rose 647 10. Brian Tyler 589
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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