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USAC: Drake takes $17,000 'Terre Haute National Open' victory

20 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

PRELIMS TO DRAKE & GRIFFIN; SPRINT CARS AT ELDORA SATURDAY

Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif., who has taken the USAC open-wheel racing series by storm the past few weeks, claimed the $17,000 first prize in last weekend's "Terre Haute National Open" presented by Dr. Pepper at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The Stoops Freightliner victory propelled him to seventh in the new series standings going into this Saturday night's events at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. A 30-lap feature is scheduled at the 1/2-mile dirt track.

Drake led all 40 laps of Sunday afternoon's finale, beating Jon Stanbrough to the checkered flag. Richard Griffin, Saturday night's prelim winner, took third ahead of Tony Elliott and Jerry Coons, Jr. Drake also won Thursday night's 20-lap prelim in his Keco/Hoosier Special, but Friday's events were rained out, creating a Saturday and Sunday wrapup to the $96,000 event.

Drake was trailed Thursday by Mike Kirby, Steve Ostling, Danny Smith and Rip Williams. Tony Jones led the opening lap and Ostling led lap two before Drake moved to the front. In Saturday's 20-lapper, Griffin, of Silver City, N.M., caught Kevin Briscoe on the 16th lap and led the final five laps to beat Briscoe, Cory Kruseman, Todd Kane and Troy Cline. Griffin piloted the Arizona Race Mart/Ron Chaffin Motorsports Special to the victory.

Sunday's 40-lap finale was halted on the opening lap when Todd Kane and Danny Smith flipped in turn one. Kane, who had broken the track qualifying record Thursday with a lap of 19.730 seconds, suffered a concussion and rib fracture in the accident and was taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital for treatment.

Kane and Drake were the respective Turbines, Ind. fast qualifiers in Thursday and Saturday action, while True Value semis went to Brad Noffsinger, Kane and J.J. Yeley.

Practice at Eldora Speedway Saturday for the track's 46th Anniversary program begins at 6:30 pm. Qualifying is scheduled for 7 pm and racing gets under way at 8.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tony Elliott 539
2. J.J. Yeley 503
3. Derek Davidson 440
4. Tracy Hines 430
5. Brian Tyler 416
6. Dave Darland 392
7. Jay Drake 382
8. Eric Gordon 375
9. Kasey Kahne 323
10. Jonathan Vennard 322

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.