USAC: 'Tony Bettenhausen 100' Coors Light Silver Bullet won by Dave Darland

22 August 1999

Springfield, IL: Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind. captured Saturday's "Tony Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, leading the final 77 laps of the 100-mile race in his Franklin Power Products/Delco Remy Special.

Darland passed Tony Elliott, also of Kokomo, on the 24th lap and was never again headed. Elliott originally finished second but was penalized one position for jumping the final restart of the race and had to settle for third behind runner-up Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. Defending race winner Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. was fourth and Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio was fifth.

"It feels better this time," Darland said after his second victory in this race. "In 1997 I was sick here. At the end of the race my tires were like brand new! If I knew they'd be that good, I would have driven harder. Elliott was better going into the corners but we were better coming off and I knew that would help as the race wore on."

Gamester's fourth-place finish enabled him to close to within just 12 points of Coors Light Silver Bullet Series point leader Ryan Newman, who flipped during practice, then climbed into his back-up car and finished 11th.

Bill Rose, who earned his first career pole, finished ninth, and Rich Tobias, Jr., who finished 13th, was named the Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race."

Springfield, Ill. - Results Saturday afternoon (August 21) from the running of the "Tony Bettenhausen 100" Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (3) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $9,250, 91.640 mph.
2. (10) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 100, $4,600.
3. (2) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $3,075.
4. (6) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $2,000.
5. (8) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 100, $1,800.
6. (19) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 100, $1,600.
7. (11) Chuck Leary, Greenfield, Ind., 100, $1,400.
8. (16) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 100, $1,200.
9. (1) Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind., 100, $1,100.
10. (18) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 99, $1,500.
11. (24) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 99, $900.
12. (13) Cary Faas, Yorba Linda, Calif., 99, $800.
13. (21) Rich Tobias Jr., Lebanon, Pa., 99, $1,200.
14. (4) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 99, $600.
15. (14) Tom Capie, Trevose, Pa., 99, $500.
16. (7) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 97, $500.
17. (29) Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill., 97, $500
18. (25) Dean Franklin, Speedway, Ind., 97, $500.
19. (27) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 95, $500.
20. (17) Ron Smoker, Hamburg, N.Y., 93, $500.
21. (5) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 90, Accident, $400.
22. (9) Robby Flock, Murietta, Calif., 73, Engine, $400.
23. (28) Scott Hatton, Roscoe, Ill., 67, Engine, $400.
24. (26) Kevin Doty, Milan, Ill., 58, Engine, $400.
25. (22) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 44, Vibration, $350.
26. (30) Rick Treadway, Indianapolis, Ind., 38, Radiator, $350.
27. (23) Rocky Hodges, Bargersville, Ind., 25, Power Steering, $350.
28. (12) Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, 22, Fuel Line, $350.
29. (20) Terry Babb, Decatur, Ill., 14, Engine, $350.
30. (15) Randy Bateman, Murphysboro, Ill., 2, Accident, $350.

Average Speed: 91.640 mph.
Time of Race: 1:05:28.403.
Caution Flags: 4 for 26 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Elliott 1-23, Darland 24-100.
Fastest Qualifier: Bill Rose - 21.768 seconds -- 113.321 mph.
Qualifying Race Winner: (15 laps) Rich Tobias, Jr.
Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1-Newman-435; 2-Gamester-423; 3-Tyler-329; 4-Hines-327; 5-Hewitt-308; 6-Leffler-253; 7-Darland-249; 8-Yeley-249; 9-Gary Hieber-248; 9-Leary-239.
Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: September 6 - DuQuoin, Ill - DuQuoin State Fairgrounds - "DuQuoin Century"

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