Buckeye Nationals FRI-SAT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  JUNE 12, 2006

Contact: DICK JORDAN/MICHAEL HARKER                                                                                                       06-134

 

 

"BUCKEYE NATIONALS" AT LIMA, ELDORA FRIDAY-SATURDAY

COONS SAYS "SHOW ME" THE MONEY; RAIN HALTS WINCHESTER

 

 

            Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. and teammate Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. lead the USAC National Sprint Car Series to back-to-back races Friday and Saturday nights to determine this year's "Buckeye Nationals" champion.

 

            Wise and Jones finished seventh and fourth respectively in last Friday night's race at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. and are separated by 17 points in the new standings. Friday night's venue is Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio and Saturday night's race is at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Dickie Gaines won last year's "Buckeye Nationals" Sprint Car title.

 

            Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. is eighth in the current standings after winning the 30-lap feature at Lake Ozark Speedway. His victory capped a "doubleheader" sweep as he also won the 30-lap USAC National Midget race earlier in the evening. He becomes the first driver since Bobby East in 2004 to sweep a USAC Sprint/Midget "doubleheader" and the first since Dave Steele in 2004 to sweep a National Sprint/Midget "doubleheader. He is only the 15th driver to post such a "sweep" in 179 such events since 1970.

 

            Coons led all 30 laps in his Dynamics, Inc. Kroger-Tide, Bounty-Pringles F-5/Mopar to beat Mat Neely, Dave Darland, Jones and Bud Kaeding.

 

            Sunday's "Kenny Irwin Memorial" at the Winchester (Ind.) Speedway was interrupted by rain following qualifications. Tracy Hines was the fastest qualifier. The event has been rescheduled as a "twilight" program on Aug. 27.

 

 

USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Josh Wise
     534
      
     6.
     Darren Hagen
     470
     
      2.
     Levi Jones
     517
      
     7.
     Dave Darland
     440
     
      3.
     Bud Kaeding
     504
      
     8.
     Jerry Coons Jr.,
     418
     
      4.
     Mat Neely
     478
      
     9.
     Jay Drake
     367
     
      5.
     Bryan Clauson
     474
      
     10.
     Brady Short
     307