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USAC: Steele out to tie Bliss for IRP lead in Saturday's 'Spring Sprint Special'

7 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. will try to tie Mike Bliss for the all-time lead in terms of Indianapolis Raceway Park USAC Sprint Car victories Saturday night in the 30-lap Union Federal Bank "Spring Sprint Special" at the .686-mile paved oval.

Steele has six victories at IRP, four in Sprint Cars, one in Silver Crown and one in Midget Cars. Bliss won five Sprint Car races at IRP, including all four in 1994!

Steele is one of only four drivers who have won races at IRP in Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget Car competition. The others are Bliss, Tony Stewart and Kenny Irwin. Dave's only two Sprint Car appearances this year have produced third-place finishes, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa May 12 and Anderson, Ind. Speedway May 24. He was also the fastest qualifier at Anderson.

Dave also holds the 1-lap track qualifying record of 20.067 seconds (123.068 mph) established in 1997. He and Tracy Hines will comprise the GMS Motorsports team which will field Northside Propane Gaerte Beasts for both drivers. Hines ranks seventh in the series standings and won the April 30 race at the Winchester (Ind.) Speedway. Hines holds the 30-lap IRP Sprint Car track record of 115.287 mph which he set in September of 1998.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tony Elliott 400
2. J.J. Yeley 375
3. Brian Tyler 356
4. Dave Darland 345
5. Derek Davidson 342
6. Eric Gordon 324
7. Tracy Hines 299
8. Kasey Kahne 271
9. Jonathan Vennard 266
10. Jay Drake 251

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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