USAC: Rain halts Illiana, Cancels 'Wente Classic'
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 28, 2001Rain forced cancellation of last weekend's "Bob Wente Classic" at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. and forced a premature halt to Wednesday night's program at the Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind.
The Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series now prepares for its inaugural appearance at the Route 66 Speedway in Joliet, Ill. this Friday night, following Thursday night's USAC WorldCom National Midget Car program at the same 1/2-mile dirt oval. Practice begins at 6:30 pm, with qualifying at 7 and racing at 8. A 30-lap feature is planned each night.
Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind. leads Jay Drake in the current Stoops Freightliner standings going into the Joliet events, which will be the first in Illinois for the series in 2001.
A total of eight different winners have emerged from the 16 dirt-track races so far in the 2001 series. Defending series champion Tony Elliott and J.J. Yeley, who rank fourth and third respectively in the current points, lead with three dirt-track wins each, while Tracy Hines, Jack Hewitt and Jay Drake have each won twice on the dirt.
The Joliet race will also feature the Dynamics, Inc. Racing Team's bid for a USAC record-tying 51st feature victory. Steve Stapp currently holds the record for USAC Sprint Car victories as a car entrant with 51.
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
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit
The Racing Photo Museum and the
Visions of Speed Art Gallery.