USAC: Kaeding wire-to-wire in Joliet sprint debut

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 5, 2001

Drivers will aim for a $10,000 winner's share of the prize money up for grabs in this weekend's "Racin' With D.O. Racin' Fest 2001" special event at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind., then travel to Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for Sunday afternoon's nationally-televised Stoops Freightliner National Sprint Car race. The Cedar Rapids event will be telecast on a delayed basis Sunday night from 8:30-10:30 pm ET.

Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif., whose initial USAC National Sprint Car victory came at North Vernon last year, will be among top threats for victory this weekend after leading wire-to-wire to win Friday night's 30-lapper at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.

Kaeding's Kohler Faucets/Ferguson Enterprises/Loan City.com/Consani Shaver/Maxim was trailed at Joliet's new 1/2-mile dirt oval by Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier J.J. Yeley, Jay Drake, Tony Elliott and Tracy Hines. Stoops Freightliner point leader Dave Darland finished ninth.

Practice for the North Vernon special event begins Friday at 6 pm. A special "Hero and Hot Dog Qualifying" session for bonus prizes will precede the first race at 7:30. Sprint Car prelims are scheduled Friday, with a 6 pm Saturday practice preceding Saturday's 8 pm 40-lap Sprint car feature, which pays $10,000-to-win. The North Vernon weekend will include complete USAC Dirt-Track Regional Midget Car programs each night as well as a racers gathering and hog roast on the Vernon town square from noon to 3 pm Saturday.

Sunday's Cedar Rapids national event opens with practice at noon. Qualifying gets under way at 1 pm and racing starts at 2. A 30-lap feature is on tap at the 1/2-mile paved oval.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 1,240
2. Jay Drake 1,158
3. J.J. Yeley 1,156
4. Tony Elliott 1,070
5. Tracy Hines 941
6. Bud Kaeding 861
7. Derek Davidson 740
8. Robbie Rice 739
9. Bill Rose 647
10. Brian Tyler 641

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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