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USAC: Leffler, Harris, Elliott & Tyler Score 'Western' Wins

14 October 1998

Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind., enjoying the best year of his racing career, hit the proverbial jackpot Friday night, raking in $11,000 for his victory in the 30-lap USAC "Western States" Sprint car race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The prize money total included a $9,000 bonus from the "Wynn's Challenge" program.

Elliott was one of four drivers to score "Western" victories during last week's busy USAC calendar of events.

National Midget point leader Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. drove the Wynn's/Performance Racing Industry Beast Gaerte to victory in Wednesday night's nationally-televised (ESPN2) "Western States" Midget race at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway. He was trailed at the flag by Jimmy Sills, Ronnie Day, Robby Flock and Elliott.

Elliott caught Bud Kaeding on the 21st lap at Las Vegas but Kaeding regained the lead seven laps later. On the final lap Elliott made a daring pass in the low groove and was able to hold off Kaeding for the rich triumph in his Tri-C Machine/Pep Boys/Nor Cal Testing/Taylor Wings Special. Kasey Kahne, "Regional Rebel" point leader Monte Faccinto and lady driver Shawna Wilskey rounded out the "top-five." Western States Sprint Car point leaders Jeff Gardner and Rick Williams finished 18th and 21st respectively.

Alex Harris of Simi Valley, Calif. extended his USAC TQ Midget point lead by winning Wednesday night's 20-lapper at Bakersfield, then took fourth behind first-time series victory Jim Styer at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway Saturday.

Harris led the final 12 laps at Bakersfield to beat Josh Lakatos, Greg Edenholm, Gene Godepski and Brian Harris. At Ventura, Styer, of Tujunga, Calif., caught Godepski on the 10th lap and led the rest of the 20-lapper to beat Lakatos, West Evans, Alex Harris and Ken Bonnema.

Western States Midget Standings: 1-Rick Hendrix-491; 2-Bryan Stanfill-459; 3-Wally Pankratz-433; 4-Shane Scully-395; 5-Jason Leffler-379; 6-Steve Paden-345; 7-Bobby Boone-314; 8-Dwayne Marcum-279; 9-Marc DeBeaumont-272; 10-Clay Klepper-258.

Western States Sprint Standings: 1-Jeff Gardner-723; 2-Rick Williams-697; 3-Tyler Haylett-470; 4-Tony Hunt-446; 5-Monte Faccinto-335; 6-Dave Fitzgerald-299; 7-Davey Pombo-289; 8-Rick Sipes-261; 9-Ivan Worden-208; 10-Ken Hamilton-179.

TQ Midget Standings: 1-Alex Harris-524; 2-Gene Godepski-369; 3-Brian Harris-357; 4-Randi Pankratz-345; 5-Josh Lakatos-344; 6-West Evans-333; 7-Ron Ahrendt-291; 8-Greg Edenholm-224; 9-Todd Hunsaker-221; 10-Paul Krueger-202.

Regional Rebel Sprint Standings: 1-Monte Faccinto-766; 2-Davey Pombo-742; 3-Lawrence Edlund-522; 4-Mark Barroso-486; 5-Craig Stidham-420; 6-Jeff Gardner-396; 7-Larry Brown-369; 8-H.P. Myatt-291; 9-Mike Faria-266; 10-Rick Williams-260.