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USAC: Kenny Irwin Jr. on the pole for Coors Light Silver Bullet race at Memphis

31 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
NASCAR Winston Cup regular Kenny Irwin, Jr. grabbed the pole starting position for Sunday's "Memphis 100" USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race during Saturday afternoon's qualifying at the 3/4-mile paved oval. The race will follow the NASCAR Busch Series race live on TNN at about 3:30 pm Eastern time.

"I told my car owner, don't be surprised if we're not real fast," admitted Kenny. "I'd never run here before but I love racing for Johnny Vance, one of my best friends." Kenny's speed of 126.713 mph was short of Dave Steele's 1-lap track reocrd of 129.789 mph set last year. Steele starts Sunday's race alongside Irwin after posting a speed of 126.457 mph in Saturday's trials.

"It's definitely a more 'out of control' type of racing than the stock car," said Irwin. "But the track is very racey. There are at least two good lanes and the race will be fun."

Thirty cars will start Sunday's 100-lap (75-mile) race, the final event in the 15-event Coors Light Silver Bullet Series.

Series point leader Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. starts 17th in the field and needs only a 28th-place finish or better to clinch the series championship. His only rival, Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind., starts fourth but must win and lead the most laps to have a chance of unseating Newman as the champion.

Saturday's 15-lap "qualifying race" to determine the final six starting spots was won by

1. (2) Kenny Irwin, Charlotte, N.C., 126.713 mph.
2. (92) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 126.457.
3. (29) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 125.429.
4. (51) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 125.261.
5. (100) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 125.243.
6. (9) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 125.232.
7. (40) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 125.092.
8. (30) Chuck Leary, Greenfield, Ind., 125.063.
9. (37) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 124.659.
10. (36) Jimmy McCune, Toledo, Ohio, 124.636.
11. (56) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 124.286.
12. (111) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 124.160.
13. (11) Davey Hamilton, Boise, Idaho, 124.155.
14. (777) Chet Fillip, Speedway, Ind., 124.115.
15. (80) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 123.671.
16. (20) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 123.666.
17. (14) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 123.615.
18. (69) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 123.428.
19. (67) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 122.688.
20. (17) Kenny Jacobs, Holmesville, Ohio, 122.338.
21. (66) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 122.327.
22. (4) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 122.277.
23. (110) Rebel Jackson, Jr., Buckley, Wash., 122.011.
24. (47) Bill Whittaker, Central Square, N.Y., 121.841.
25. (62) Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind., qualifying race.
26. (23) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, qualifying race.
27. (75) Todd Kane, Powell, Ohio, qualifying race.
28. (22) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., qualifying race.
29. (18) Troy Vaccaro, Sandusky, Ohio, qualifying race.
30. (54) Keith Butler, Tampa, Fla., qualifying race.

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