FLOCK, RODELA TIED FOR EARL'S LEAD

MAY 16, 2005

Robby Flock and Jerome Rodela emerged tied for the 2005 
Earl's Plumbing Fast Qualifier Championship in the USAC Western Midget Car 
Series following Saturday night's event at Bakersfield, Calif. Rodela was 
the fastest qualifier at Bakersfield.

Damion Gardner continues to run away with the Earl's lead 
in the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series after yet another fast 
qualifying effort Saturday at Perris, Calif.

Additional top Earl's point scorers over the past weekend 
were Mike Ward (Carolina/Virginia Ford Focuses) and Robbie Whitchurch 
(California Ford Focuses).

Earl's points will be up for grabs this week in events at 
Phoenix, Ariz. (Valvoline CRA Sprints); Lima, Ohio (Midwest Ford Focuses) 
and Stockton, Calif. (California Ford Focuses).

Points are traditionally awarded at each USAC event based 
on an international system awarding the top-six qualifiers with points in 
the following scale: 1st-9, 2nd-6, 3rd-4, 4th-3, 5th-2, 6th-1. When 
qualifying is not held, points are awarded based on a system of lineup 
points earned in the preliminary heats.

Each USAC National, Western and Ford Focus Midget Car 
Earl's Plumbing FQ Champion will be honored at USAC's Champions Night 
ceremony in Indianapolis. The National and Western FQ champs will receive 
$5,000 each, while the Ford Focus FQ champs will each receive $1,500.

2005 Standings:

Weld Racing Silver Crown: 1-Bobby East-9; 2-Dave Steele-6; 3-Tracy Hines-4; 
4-Josh Wise-3; 5-Jerry Coons, Jr.-2.

Valvoline National Sprint Car: 1-Bobby East, Jay Drake & Dave Darland-9; 
4-Mat Neely-6; 5-Jerry Coons, Jr.-4.

National Midget Car: 1-Michael Lewis-9; 2-Bobby East-6; 3-J.J. Yeley-3; 
4-Jay Drake-1.

Valvoline Western Sprint Car: 1-Brian McClish-15; 2-Tony Hunt-9; 3-Mike 
Murgoitio-6; 4-Tim Barber-5; 5-Brad Bumgarner & Michael Lewis-4.

Western Midget Car: 1-Robby Flock & Jerome Rodela-12; 3-Michael Lewis & 
Steve Paden-9; 5-Garrett Hansen-7.

Valvoline CRA Sprint Car: 1-Damion Gardner-80; 2-Rip Williams-31; 3-Charles 
Davis, Jr.-20; 4-Rickie Gaunt-19; 5-Seth Wilson-18.

California Ford Focus: 1-Alex Harris-37; 2-Chase Barber-23; 3-Robbie 
Whitchurch-15; 4-Chris Veach-14; 5-Jake Vail-13.

Carolina/Virginia Ford Focus: 1-Chase Scott-16; 2-Brit Andersen-10; 3-Aron 
Oakley, Robbie Ray, Mike Ward & Michael Sboro-9.

Oklahoma Ford Focus: 1-Dustin Morgan & Leon Bacon-15; 3-Jasiel Randolph & 
Evan Sewell-12; 5-Matt Sherrell-9.