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USAC: Newman grabs PPIR victory, Midget cars visit Salem Sunday

20 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. captured Sunday's 25-mile MCI WorldCom USAC National/Western Midget Car race at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo. Newman trailed Aaron Fike for the first three laps, then moved to the front for the final 22 laps around the 1-mile paved oval in his King Soopers/Pringles/Sunny Delight Brayton Ford/Drinan.

The victory boosted Newman to fourth in the National standings going into this Sunday afternoon's "Six Sigma Classic" at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway. A 30-lap feature is on tap at the 1/2-mile paved oval following practice at 11:30 am and qualifying at 12:30 pm. The first race is at 2.

Michael Lewis finished second in Sunday's feature at PPIR ahead of Ed Carpenter, Fike and Kasey Kahne, who continues to lead the National standings going into Sunday's Salem events. Bobby Boone, the MCI WorldCom Western Midget point leader, finished 14th Sunday, but leads Steve Paden, who was ninth, by 58 points in the new Western series standings.

Newman was also Saturday's fastest qualifier at 26.043 seconds and Kahne won Sunday's 10-lap "qualifying race."

Newman holds the 30-lap Salem track record of 106.339 mph, set last year, while Jay Drake holds the 1-lap Salem record of 112.066, also set last year.

USAC MCI WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Kasey Kahne 259
2. Jay Drake 210
3. Dave Darland 208
4. Ryan Newman 192
5. A.J. Fike 185
6. Michael Lewis 180
7. Jimmy McCune 170
8. Steve Paden 153
9. John Heydenreich 148
10. Ryan Scott 144

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.