USAC: Leffler drives to victory at Coca-Cola 100 at IRP
21 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Indianapolis, Ind. - Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif., who qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 earlier in the afternoon, drove to victory in Saturday night's "Coca-Cola 100" at Indianapolis Raceway Park, leading all 100 laps after winning the pole starting position in his Team ASE/Beast Special, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Bob East.
Leffler qualified for the May 28 "500" at a speed of over 220 mph, but his 121.667 mph track record speed at IRP was good enough to outqualify the 52-car Coors Light Silver Bullet field. He seemed unbeatable in the 100-lap main event, stretching his lead after each of four restarts due to caution periods.
"The car was on a rail tonight," he admitted after the race. "We had a slight vibration but I thought we had the race in command from the outset. I knew Ryan Newman would hang it out in the final laps after the last restart but I didn't think he had the tires left to beat me."
Newman finished second, ahead of teammate Jimmy McCune, with Kasey Kahne taking fourth place after starting 27th in the 30-car field. Kahne grabbed the Oliver Trucking "Rookie of the Race" award for his performance.
Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio was honored in pre-race ceremonies for earning his record 150th career Silver Bullet start. He finished 10th after starting 26th.
Results Saturday night (May 20) from the running of the "Coca-Cola 100" Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:
1. (1) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 100, $9,400,
2. (10) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 100, $5,200.
3. (3) Jimmy McCune, Toledo, Ohio, 100, $3,250.
4. (27) Kasey Kahne, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $2,700.
5. (13) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 100, $1,950.
6. (14) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 100, $1,800.
7. (24) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $1,650.
8. (16) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $1,550.
9. (19) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $1,450.
10. (26) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 100, $1,350.
11. (2) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 100, $1,250.
12. (4) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 100, $1,200.
13. (29) Pat Abold, Pennellville, N.Y., 99, $1,149.
14. (17) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 99, $1,099.
15. (20) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 99, $1,049.
16. (21) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 99, $999.
17. (22) Bobby McMahan, Rio Linda, Calif., 98, $949.
18. (18) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 92, $892.
19. (6) Billy Whittaker, Central Square, N.Y., 84, Drive Line,
$859.
20. (23) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 83, Suspension,
$833.
21. (15) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 49, Right Front Wheel,
$774.
22. (7) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 30, Steering, $730.
23. (8) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 17, Drive Line,
$682.
24. (28) Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, 7, Suspension, $657.
25. (5) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 2, Accident, $602.
26. (9) Chet Fillip, Speedway, Ind., 2, Accident,$602.
27. (11) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 2, Accident,$602.
28. (12) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 2, Accident,$602.
29. (25) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 2, Accident,$602.
30. (30) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 2,
Accident,$602.
Average Speed: None-Red Flag
Time of Race: None-Red Flag
Caution Flags: 4 for 26 laps
Lead Changes: None
Lap Leaders: Laps 1-100 Leffler.
Fastest Qualifier: Jason Leffler-20.298 seconds, 121.667 mph.
Qualifying Race Winners: (15 laps each) Jay Drake & Bobby McMahan.
Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1- Tyler-230; 2-Hines-216; 3-Noffsinger-211; 4-Newman-199; 5-Leffler-195; 6-Darland-189; 7-White-157; 8-McCune-150; 9-Heydenreich-134; 10-Hieber-130.
Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: May 26 - Indiana State Fairgrounds - Indianapolis, Ind. - A.J. Foyt's True Value "Hulman-Hoosier Hundred"
Text Provided by Dick Jordan
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