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USAC: Darland, Drake take 'Hut' and 'Put' victories

8 September 1999

MALONE-SMOKER "SHOWDOWN" AT 16TH STREET SATURDAY

Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind. and Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. captured victories in MCI WorldCom USAC Midget Car competition last week, Darland taking the 46th Hoosier Lottery "Hut Hundred" at Terre Haute, Ind. Wednesday and Drake winning the "Put 40" at Putnamville, Ind. Saturday.

The MCI WorldCom National Midget Car Series visits the 16th Street Speedway this Saturday night for a complete program of events awarding points toward both the National and 16th Street Series championships. Jason Leffler enjoys a comfortable lead in the National standings while Critter Malone has a single-point lead over Ron Smoker in the 16th Street points going into the next-to-last event on the 16th Street calendar. A 40-lap feature concludes the night's events, which start with practice at 5 and qualifying at 5:30.

The first race on the 1/4-mile dirt oval starts at 7.

Darland snatched the lead away from Tracy Hines on a restart at lap 99 and led the final two laps in his Wynn's/ASE/Beast Pink Ford to beat Hines, Ron Smoker, Adam Clarke and Tony Elliott to the checkered flag. Pole starter Clay Klepper led the first five laps, then Dan Boorse led the next 43 before yielding to Hines. Drake caught Hines on the 50th lap and led for 16 before Hines regained the top spot. Rounding out the "top-10" at the finish in the race which started 34 cars were Dean Franklin, Andy Pierce, A.J. Fike, Steve Barth and Donnie Lehmann.

Franklin came back Saturday night to lead the first 15 laps of the "Put 40" at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville before Klepper went to the front for five laps. Drake caught him on lap 21 and led the final 20 laps in the Van Buerden Insurance Gaerte for the win, beating Jerry Coons, Jr., fast qualifier Leffler, Malone and Pierce to the checkered flag.

MCI WORLDCOM/USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Jason Leffler 393 6. Brian Gerster 161
2. Ryan Newman 276 7. Jay Drake 158
3. Jerry Coons, Jr. 270 8. Clay Klepper 154
4. Tracy Hines 181 9. Ricky Shelton 151
5. Dave Darland 163 10. A.J. Fike 145

USAC 16TH STREET SPEEDWAY MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1. Critter Malone 168 6. Roy Caruthers 75
2. Ron Smoker 167 7. Rick Vaughn 74
3. John Wolfe 135 8. Michael Lang 61
4. Andy Pierce 116 9. Barry Reed 59
5. Steve Knepper 86 10. Tim Spindler 57

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