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USAC: Drake takes 'NAPA Hawkeye Hundred' at Knoxville

6 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. saved his tires during the early stages of Saturday night's "NAPA Hawkeye Hundred" and the strategy paid off as he scored his first USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet victory at the Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway.

Drake started 11th in the 26-car field on the 1/2-mile dirt track but caught J.J. Yeley on the 88th lap and led the rest of the way to win the race in his Ralph's Muffler & Brake Shops Special.

"I never thought I'd be standing in victory lane at Knoxville," said Drake after the race. "To get my first Silver Bullet win here is special. I thought we were in trouble early in the race because we started with a hard tire and most of the guys didn't. I really though we had goofed, but after 25 laps I figured we would be OK at the end."

Yeley led 37 laps before yielding to Drake and ended up finishing second ahead of Kasey Kahne, who earned the Oliver Trucking "Rookie of the Race" award. Brad Fox, who passed pole starter Ryan Newman on lap five and led through lap 50, took fourth at the checkered flag ahead of fifth-place finisher Jack Hewitt.

Drake earned $9,533 from the total purse of $53,050.

Brian Tyler of Parma, Mich. continues to lead the series standings after finishing seventh in Saturday night's race. He has a 34-point lead over Tracy Hines, who was 16th in the 100-lapper.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Brian Tyler 271
2. Tracy Hines 237
3. Ryan Newman 227
4. Dave Darland 225
5. Brad Noffsinger 222
6. Jason leffler 195
7. Paul White 184
8. J.J. Yeley 182
9. John Heydenreich 173
10. Jay Drake 169

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.