USAC: Davidson leads sprints to Eldora, Winchester
25 April 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Derek Davidson of Lafayette, Ind. hopes to return to the winner's
circle
when the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series presents its Stoops "Border
Wars VI" this weekend at tracks in Rossburg, Ohio and Winchester, Ind.
Davidson won the first two races at Eldora Speedway last year enroute to the series point lead but an accident at Terre Haute, Ind. in June ended his bid for the series championship. He finished seventh in this year's Eldora opener and will drive the Roudebush Excavating/Hare Chevrolet/F.C. Tucker, Realtor Gaerte/Stealth in Saturday night's Stoops "Border Wars VI" opener at the 1/2-mile Eldora dirt oval.
Davidson will try to become the fourth different champion of "Border Wars." Tony Stewart won the 1995 title, Brian Tyler won the 1996, 1997 and 1998 crowns and Tracy Hines was the champion last year. In his three 1999 Winchester starts before the June accident, Davidson scored three "top-10" finishes, including a pair of fifth-places.
The driver who amasses the largest point total in the two weekend races will be crowned the Stoops "Border Wars VI" champion. A 30-lap feature event is on tap at both tracks.
Practice at Eldora Speedway Saturday starts at 6:30 pm. Qualifying begins at 7 and racing gets under way at 8. Winchester's Sunday timetable has practice at 11:30 am, qualifying at 1 pm and racing at 2.
Drivers will be aiming at Jimmy Sills' 1-lap track record of 15.312 seconds at Eldora and Ryan Newman's 1-lap track record of 14.249 seconds (126.325 mph) at Winchester.
STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Derek Davidson 108
2. Eric Gordon 97
3. J.J. Yeley 96
4. Tony Elliott 92
5. Dave Darland 82
6. Tracy Hines 78
7. Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. 78
8. Bud Kaeding 76
9. Jack Hewitt 73
10. Jay Drake 71
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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