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USAC: Western wins to Davey Hamilton and J.J. Ercse

25 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

TQs HEAD FOR THE "PAS" SATURDAY

Davey Hamilton of Las Vegas, Nev. and J.J. Ercse of Lakewood, Calif. captured USAC "Western" feature events last weekend at tracks in Tucson, Ariz. and Irwindale, Calif. respectively.

Hamilton drove the Consani Special to victory in Saturday night's 40-lap Sprint Car race at Tucson Raceway Park, passing defending Western Sprint Car Champion Bud Kaeding on the 27th lap and leading the rest of the way. Kaeding took second ahead of Rick Hendrix, Todd Ellison and fast qualifier Jeff Gardner. Gardner led five drivers who shattered the track's 1-lap qualifying record with a lap of 13.943 seconds.

Burney Lamar and Hamilton won the two preliminary heat races. Curtis Brown led the first seven laps of the feature before yielding to Kaeding. Hamilton emerged from the race with a 38-point lead over Ellison in the series standings going into races May 6 and 7 at Madera and Tracy, Calif.

Ercse caught West Evans on the ninth lap of Saturday night's 20-lap MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Car race at Irwindale, then led the final 12 laps for the win. Walt Johnson finished second ahead of Greg Edenholm, Todd Hunsaker and Evans. Ercse was also the fastest qualifier and won the opening heat race. Edenholm also won a heat.

Ron Wade, sixth at Irwindale, leads Edenholm by four points going into this Saturday night's MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Car race at the Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Davey Hamilton 319
2. Todd Ellison 281
3. Burney Lamar 252
4. Jeff Gardner 249
5. Mike Boat 241
6. Tony Hunt 223
7. Kevin Kierce 198
8. Amy Barnes 175
9. Rick Hendrix 161
10. Kenny Hamilton 132

USAC MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Ron Wade 184
2. Greg Edenholm 180
3. Walt Johnson 164
4. J.J. Ercse 155
5. Todd Hunsaker 149
6. West Evans 144
7. Steve Lambert 104
8. Steve Parke 98
9. Ron Ahrendt 97
10. Josh Lakatos 92

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.