USAC: '4-Crown' to Kaeding; Darland improving after accident
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
September 25, 2001Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. captured Saturday night's 30-lap "4-Crown Nationals" Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car race in which series point leader Dave Darland was injured during a multi-car accident.
Darland has made remarkable progress in his recovery from injuries sustained in the multi-car incident on lap 16 of Saturday night's race. He was moved out of intensive care on Sunday and is undergoing further testing in the hospital's neurological unit. He was awake and alert, had been up walking and his release from the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio was expected as early as Tuesday.
Kaeding trailed Greg Wilson for the first 15 laps at Eldora, then moved to the front in his Kohler Faucets/Maxim Chassis/Ferguson Enterprises/Loan City.com Shaver/Maxim. Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier J.J. Yeley finished second ahead of Jay Drake, Wilson and Bill Rose.
Darland was one of several drivers who flipped during the Eldora program. Jack Hewitt and Derek Davidson flipped on the 14th lap of the feature and Hewitt was treated for a possible concussion and released.
The Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series continues October 6 with the "Fall Harvest Classic" twin feature events at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The first 30-lap feature will be the "Jan Opperman Classic," which was rained out on July 28. It will be followed by a complete new program of races topped by a 30-lap finale on the 1/2-mile dirt track.
STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Dave Darland 1,334
2. J.J. Yeley 1,299
3. Jay Drake 1,297
4. Tony Elliott 1,165
5. Tracy Hines 1,073
6. Bud Kaeding 1,022
7. Derek Davidson 869
8. Robbie Rice 852
9. Brian Tyler 806
10. Bill Rose 696
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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