"TIMES-DISPATCH 100" FEATURES TOP-NAME DRIVERS & OWNERS COMPETING AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

JUNE 20, 2005


             This weekend's "Richmond Times-Dispatch 100" at Richmond (Va.) 
International Raceway is round four of the 2005 USAC Weld Racing Silver 
Crown Series. Not only are many of the nation's top drivers entered, but 
some of the biggest names in other forms of motorsports are also involved.

             Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif., fresh from his initial series 
triumph at Terre Haute, Ind. leads the series standings, piloting one of 
three cars entered by NASCAR star Tony Stewart, a former USAC "Triple 
Crown" Champion. Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. will pilot a second Stewart 
entry at Richmond.

             Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. trails Wise by only 15 points going 
in to Saturday's 100-lap race on the 3/4-mile paved RIR oval. Steele won at 
Richmond in 2002 and 2003 and pilots a car co-entered by Stewart and noted 
car builder Bob East.

             Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind., the son of Steele's car owner, 
is the defending champion of the Richmond race and is a threat to repeat 
his 2004 victory.

             Kasey Kahne, who won the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at RIR in May, 
also has a pair olf cars entered this weekend, with drivers Bud Kaeding of 
Campbell, Calif. and Erin Crocker of Wilbraham, Mass. Kaeding ranks third 
in the current standings while Crocker is hoping to improve on her 
18th-place finish in the series opener at Phoenix, Ariz. in January.

             Drivers will be aiming at Steele's track record of 142.197 
mph, but will have an eye focused on the ultimate series qualifying mark of 
143.093 mph set by Brad Noffsinger at Gateway International Raceway's 
1.25-mile oval near St. Louis, Mo. in 2000.

USAC WELD RACING SILVER CROWN SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Josh Wise-132
2.-Dave Steele-117
3.-Bud Kaeding-116
4.-Brian Tyler-111
5.-Teddy Beach-110
6.-Tracy Hines-108
7.-Dave Darland-107
8.-Jay Drake-103
9.-Wayne Reutimann, Jr-102
10.-Russ Gamester-92