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USAC: Hewitt tunes up for '4-Crown' with 'Sumar Classic' win

21 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio drove his Utility Peterbilt/Print Express/Dellen Family Chevy to victory in Friday night's Pepsi "Sumar Classic 100" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, leading the final 11 laps after J.J. Yeley blew an engine while leading.

"Everybody will be gunning for me next week," said Hewitt after his win. Hewitt is set to try to repeat his incredible 1998 feat of sweeping the "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. A 50-lap Coors Light Silver Bullet race is part of Saturday night's concluding events, following Friday night's prelims on the 1/2-mile dirt oval. Practice on Friday starts at 6:30 pm and Saturday night's races start at 7:30.

"The track was great tonight," said Hewitt at Terre Haute. "It felt good to win one. I'd like to dedicate this race to one of my old car owners, Ralph DePalma, who passed away last night. I was faster than J.J. (Yeley) but wasn't sure I could get him."

Hewitt was the fourth race leader and the victory was a record 22nd for him in the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series. He finished a couple of car lengths ahead of Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind. Jimmy Sills of Placerville, Calif., Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge, Ohio and pole starter Brad Noffsinger of Concord, N.C. rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag. Wilson was awarded the Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race" Award for his fourth-place finish.

Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. regained the series point lead going into the "4-Crown Nationals" feature at Rossburg, Ohio. He leads Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. by 21 points after finishing eighth at Terre Haute. Gamester spun on the 78th lap of the race and wound up 19th.

Noffsinger led the first 28 laps, then defending race winner Tony Elliott led the next 30. Yeley then led through lap 89 before his engine let go. Drivers Chuck Leary and Rich Tobias, Jr. escaped injury in flips during the program and Brian Tyler won the 15-lap "qualifying race."

1999 USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Ryan Newman 501 6. Dave Darland 366
2. Russ Gamester 480 7. Tony Elliott 316
3. Brian Tyler 396 8. Jimmy Sills 303
4. Jack Hewitt 393 9. J.J. Yeley 300
5. Tracy Hines 370 10. Jason Leffler 264

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