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USAC: Drake eyes Saturday's 'Night before the 500' Classic at IRP

23 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. hopes to add Saturday night's Budweiser "Night Before the 500" Classic to his list of USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Car race victories. The event, which dates back to 1946, marks the resumption of the National Midget Car Series after a brief hiatus.

Drake won the last National Midget Car race, April 2 at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, and holds an 11-point lead over Dave Darland going into Saturday night's events on the .686-mile paved oval. Drake already owns victories in the prestigious "4-Crown Nationals" and "Turkey Night Grand Prix" Midget Car classics.

This year's "Night Before the 500" events include the United States Formula 2000 Championship Series, presented by SpeedVision and practice gets under way at 1 pm for the F2000 cars and at 4 pm for the Midget Cars. A 50-lap feature event awaits each series at the conclusion of the night's program.

Ryan Newman won last year's Budweiser "Night Before the 500" Classic and is currently seventh in the MCI WorldCom National standings. Drivers will be aiming at Chris Shultz' 1-lap track mark of 121.219 mph during qualifications.

USAC MCI WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Jay Drake 107
2. Dave Darland 96
3. Jimmy McCune 93
4. Kasey Kahne 88
5. John Heydenreich 84
6. A.J. Fike 82
7. Ryan Newman 63
8. Michael Lewis 61
9. Ted Hines 58
10. Dane Carter 58

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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