USAC: Kahne 2 for 2 at IRP; Eldora's 4-Crown this weekend

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 18, 2001

Defending USAC WorldCom National Midget Car Champion Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw, Wash. scored an impressive victory in Saturday night's 30-lap feature event at Indianapolis (IN) Raceway Park. He previously won the prestigious "Night Before the 500" Classic at IRP in May, making his 2-for-2 in Midget racing at the .686-mile paved oval this year.

Patriotic tributes to those affected by Tuesday's tragic events in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania preceded Saturday night's racing events at IRP. Participants and spectators stood in unison as the tributes unfolded, including renditions of "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America".

Kahne was relegated to a 21st starting position after changing a tire prior to the start of Saturday night's race. He proceeded to maneuver his Ford/ASE/Beast/PRI Pink Ford Beast to the front as the laps progressed and ran down leader Tracy Hines on the final lap to post the win. Hines, who led the first 29 laps, finished second ahead of Bobby East, series point leader Dave Darland and Steve Paden. Fast qualifier J.J. Yeley was seventh at the checkered flag.

Kahne is the defending winner of this weekend's "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, but Darland, whose series lead has blossomed to a comfortable 185 points over runner-up A.J. Fike, won the "4-Crown" in 1999 and is expected to be among top threats to repeat. Other former "4-Crown" champs expected to compete this weekend at the 1/2-mile dirt Ohio oval include Jack Hewitt (1987-93-98), Jay Drake (1997) and Tracy Hines (1996).

Friday's Eldora practice begins at 6:30 pm, with qualifying and preliminary heat races also on Friday's schedule. Saturday night's racing starts at 7:30 with semis for each series. A 25-lap WorldCom National Midget Car feature event is the first of four feature events, to be followed by a 30-lapper for the USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars, a 20-lapper for the UMP Modifieds and a 50-lap USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet finale.

USAC WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 953
2. A.J. Fike 768
3. Tracy Hines 755
4. Jay Drake 724
5. J.J. Yeley 666
6. Aaron Fike 642
7. Steve Paden 507
8. Kasey Kahne 486
9. Jerry Coons, Jr. 474
10. Ryan Scott 439

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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