LEVI JONES SET TO DEFEND "INDIANA SPRINT WEEK TITLE" LEWIS, EAST TAKE OHIO RACES, TOWNSEND SUCCUMBS

JULY 11, 2005

             Levi Jones is set to defend his Valvoline "Indiana Sprint 
Week" championship as the seven-race series opens this Thursday night at 
Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind. Subsequent races are slated 
Friday night at Bloomington Speedway, Saturday night at Lincoln Park 
Speedway in Putnamville and Sunday night at Tri-State Speedway in 
Haubstadt. The finales are scheduled July 20 at Gas City I-69 Speedway, 
July 21 at Lawrenceburg Speedway (Robbie Stanley Classic) and July 22 at 
the Terre Haute Action Track (Jan Opperman Classic).
             This year's Valvoline "Indiana Sprint Week" offers $158,400 in 
total prize money, including the point fund to be distributed following the 
series finale. Former champions expected to compete include Jones, two-time 
champ Dave Darland, Jay Drake, Tony Elliott and Cory Kruseman. J.J. Yeley 
and Kruseman are tied with the most "Indiana Sprint Week" victories at nine 
each, while Darland has seven wins and Drake six.
             Drake leads the Valvoline National Sprint Car Series standings 
entering the seven-race tour. Darland trails by 22 points and Jones ranks 
third, 58 behind the leader.
             Michael Lewis and Bobby East posted feature victories in 
National Sprint Car events last week, Lewis winning Friday night's 
"Hemelgarn Racing Night" race at the Toledo (Ohio) Speedway and Lewis 
grabbing Saturday night's race at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Speedway.
             Lewis trailed Dave Darland for 27 laps at Toledo, then led the 
final 13 laps in his CMKXtreme.com/Wirtgen America Eagle/Kissler. He was 
followed at the checkered flag by fast qualifier East, Josh Wise, Kyle 
Nicholas and Eric Gordon. East fought off the challenges from Dave Steele 
to win the Mansfield race, leading the final 11 laps in  his Ford 
Performance Parts Beast. Wise finished second ahead of Gordon, Steele and 
Brian Tyler.
             Saturday night's Mansfield event was marred by the death of 
Don Townsend, Sr. in a practice crash. A long-time Sprint car veteran, 
Townsend had competed in numerous USAC events since 1979, most notably the 
famed "Little 500" at Anderson, Ind. where he finished 12th in 2003.

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Jay Drake-555
2.-Dave Darland-533
3.-Levi Jones-497
4.-Josh Wise-491
5.-Bud Kaeding-480
6.-Mat Neely-423
7.-Dave Steele-335
8.-Bobby East-326
9.-Jon Stanbrough-314
10.-Aaron Pierce-268