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USAC: Steele takes IRP Sprint; '4-Crown' this Friday, Saturday

21 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. captured Saturday night's 30-lap Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, his sixth Sprint car win at the .686-mile paved oval in the past three seasons.

Steele caught Tracy Hines on lap 22 and led the rest of the way in his Northside Propane machine to take the "Arby's Season Finale" over Hines, Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., series point leader Dave Darland and Jason McCord. Hines led the first 21 laps in his bid to claim a $50,000 bonus posted by Simpson Safety Equipment for any driver who could win both the Sprint and Midget Car features. Hines also finished second in the Midget Car 30-lapper and Steele was fifth.

This weekend's "4-Crown Nationals" includes the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car series in a 30-lapper on Saturday night, following prelims on Friday night. Friday's practice begins at 6:30 pm and Saturday night's races start at 7:30. Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio is expected to defend his incredible feat of sweeping the 1998 "4-Crown" feature events on the 1/2-mile dirt oval.

Ryan Newman was the Turbines, Ind. fast qualifier at IRP. Brian Tyler, Steele, Eric Gordon and Tony Ave won the heat races and Robbie Rice grabbed the True Value Semi.

Friday's "4-Crown" events include qualifying and heat races, while semis and features are scheduled on Saturday.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 1649 6. Robbie Rice 813
2. Tracy Hines 1395 7. Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. 791
3. Tony Elliott 1328 8. Brian Gerster 715
4. Brian Tyler 942 9. Jack Hewitt 621
5. Eric Gordon 853 10. Derek Davidson 605

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.