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USAC: Hamilton, Boone split Irwindale glory

5 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

MIDGET CARS, TQs RETURN TO BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY SATURDAY

Davey Hamilton and Bobby Boone captured feature victories in USAC Western racing competition Saturday night at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. The MCI WorldCom Western Midget Cars and TQ Midget Cars will compete this Saturday night at the Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway, with a 20-lap TQ and 30-lap Midget Car feature on tap on the 1/3-mile dirt track.

Hamilton, of Las Vegas, Nev., scored his second consecutive Western Sprint Car victory in Saturday night's 40-lap race at the 1/2-mile paved Irwindale oval. Driving the Consani Construction Special, Davey led the final 14 laps of the race after passing Rick Hendrix on lap 27. Todd Ellison finished second, ahead of Jeff Gardner, Hendrix and Mike Boat. Tony Hunt was the night's fastest qualifier and Hamilton and Gardner won the heat races. Jimmy Sills led the first nine laps of the feature before yielding to Hendrix.

Boone, of Palmdale, Calif., wheeled his Pennzoil Esslinger Special to victory in the 30-lap MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car main event, outduelling Ryan Newman in the early laps, then holding off Matt Streeter and Steve Paden at the checkered flag. Shane Scully and Josh Wise rounded out the "top-five." Paden led the opening lap before Newman moved to the front. Boone finally moved past Newman on the 15th lap and led the rest of the way, while Newman faded with mechanical problems and eventually dropped out. Boone was the fastest qualifier but Newman and Rick Hendrix won the heats.

As a result of their victories Hamilton and Boone emerged as the new series point leaders. The Sprint cars resume action in a Saturday night, April 15 event at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Davey Hamilton 192
2. Todd Ellison 175
3. Burney Lamar 148
4. Tony Hunt 145
5. Jeff Gardner 141
6. Kenny Hamilton 132
7. Amy Barnes 130
8. Mike Boat 129
9. Kevin Kierce 124
10. Jason McCord 99

USAC MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Bobby Boone 243
2. Kasey Kahne 233
3. Ryan Newman 217
4. Steve Paden 200
5. Thomas Meseraull 182
6. Danny Ebberts 180
7. Shane Scully 179
8. Wally Pankratz 145
9. Rick Hendrix 125
10. Dave Darland 113

USAC MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Ron Wade 71
2. Steve Lambert 65
3. Greg Edenholm 63
4. Joe Finger 55
5. West Evans 51
6. Todd Hunsaker 47
7. John Lakatos 42
8. Steve Parke 40
9. Deborah Paull 40
10. Ron Ahrendt 33

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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