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USAC: Sills Wins Foyt's 'Hulman Hoosier Hundred'

2 June 1999

Jimmy Sills of Placerville, Calif. captured A.J. Foyt's True Value "Hulman-Hoosier Hundred" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Friday night before a crowd of about 9,000.

Sills, the only 3-time champion of USAC's Coors Light Silver Bullet Series, led 66 of the 100 laps around the 1-mile dirt oval, driving the True Value Chevy owned by Foyt and George Snider. He beat runner-up Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. by just over a car length. He also won the pole starting position at a speed of 114.260 mph.

"When the boss man is here (referring to Foyt), you have to perform," said Sills in victory lane. "But if we hadn't had the red flag it would have been hard to recover." Dave Darland had passed Sills on lap 17 and led through lap 50 but lost an engine and retired from competition. Sills' crew made some changes to the car and he was able to lead the final 50 laps.

The race was red-flagged on lap 52 when Kevin Thomas of Danville, Ind. hit the guardrail in turn one and flipped. He was taken to Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital for a precautionary check, then released.

Trailing Sills and Gamester at the checkered flag were Robby Flock, series point leader Ryan Newman and 1997 race winner Chuck Leary. Derek Davidson, J.J. Yeley, Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race" Paul White, Greg Wilson and Brad Noffsinger rounded out the "top-10."

Defending Coors Light Silver Bullet Champion Jason Leffler also flipped, during practice, and was also taken to Methodist Hospital for a precautionary check, then released.

1999 USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Ryan Newman 222 6. Jimmy Sills 121
2. Russ Gamester 204 7. Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. 114
3. Brian Tyler 171 8. Dave Steele 114
4. Robby Flock 153 9. Tracy Hines 111
5. J.J. Yeley 127 10. Derek Davidson 108

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