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USAC: Point battles spice final three USAC race programs

16 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Tight point races highlight USAC's 1999 season finales, beginning with this Saturday night's "doubleheader" at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.

Californians Marc DeBeaumont of Clayton and Shane Scully of Encino square off for the 1999 USAC MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car title, while Josh Wise of Riverside and Greg Edenholm of Agouro are neck-and-neck in the fight for the 1999 USAC MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Car championship. On the National MCI WorldCom Midget Car scene, Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. and Jerry Coons, Jr. are headed for a showdown for the runner-up spot behind Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif., who has a virtual lock on his third consecutive crown.

Saturday night's events at Bakersfield's 1/3-mile dirt track include a 20-lap TQ Midget Car feature and a 50-lap National/Western MCI WorldCom Midget Car main event. Both will be pivotal in determining 1999 USAC champions. The Midget Cars have races remaining at Irwindale, Calif. November 25 and Phoenix, Ariz. Nov. 27, while the TQs conclude their 1999 campaign at Irwindale on Thanksgiving night.

Scully and Edenholm may have the edge in terms of previous Bakersfield accomplishment this season. Scully has a second and third in four starts there so far, while DeBeaumont flipped in practice for the September 5 race there but had a second, fourth and fifth previously. Edenholm has a second and third in two 1999 Bakersfield starts, while Wise has yet to crack the "top-5" in three starts. Newman and Coons will be making their 1999 Bakersfield debuts in Saturday night's events.

Ron Wade of Bellflower, Calif. owns two Bakersfield TQ triumphs this year, while Walt Johnson of North Hollywood captured the September 5 race. Jay Drake, Jimmy Sills, Sleepy Tripp and Rip Williams have won the four Midget Car races there. Drake also won last year's "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Bakersfield, while Tripp's July 31 victory was the 104th of his storied Western Midget Car career.

The 1999 USAC season concludes with the 59th Home Depot "Turkey Night" classic November 25 at Irwindale, featuring both the TQs and Midget Cars, then the Midget Cars finish off the season at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix November 27.

MCI WORLDCOM USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS (As of Nov. 15)

1. Jason Leffler 498
2. Ryan Newman 377
3. Jerry Coons, Jr. 361
4. Tracy Hines 242
5. Jay Drake 235

MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS (As of Nov. 15)

1. Marc DeBeaumont 525
2. Shane Scully 485
3. Bobby Boone 460
4. Alex Harris 397
5. Wally Pankratz 325

MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR STANDINGS (As of Nov. 15)

1. Josh Wise 377
2. Greg Edenholm 367
3. Walt Johnson 303
4. Randi Pankratz 302
5. West Evans 259

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.