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ASA: Garvey Collects Win In USAMeats.com 200 at Chicago Motor Speedway

16 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

CICERO, Ill.--Mike Garvey, who has struggled through the early part of the 2000 ASA ACDelco Series season, picked up his second win of the year at Chicago Motor Speedway in Cicero, Ill. Garvey had to avoid a late caution flag with only four laps remaining allowing second and third place to close in, en route to collecting $28,150, which included an extra $6,700 from elf Fuels for winning from the pole.

"When you have that kind of rhythm and are right on track, you dont want to see it broken with a caution flag," said the Lakeville, Minn. native. "The car was awesome. The motor was awesome and the tires were perfect, I never thought the combination would be this good."

After a late spin, Garvey was lucky to have a cushion of several lapped cars between him and second place Scott Wimmer. When the green came back out with four laps to go, Garvey built a lead and led Wimmer to the checkers by 1.705 sec. The victory was the 10th in Garveys career in ASA. Although he never led, rookie Robbie Pyle, who was fast in practice on Saturday, picked up the first podium finish of his career, coming home third in the Minuteman Chevrolet. Pyle ran consistently up front the entire day, but elected to stay out rather than pit late in the race.

"That was the plan the entire day," said Pyle. "I was beginning to wonder if it would be the right choice late in the race, but it turned out to be fine." I am vaery excited and this team is finally coming together and will be a force late in the year."

Garvey led for 78 of the 200 laps, taking the point position three different times. Garveys portion of the $231,550 purse was the third largest purse in the 33 year history of ASA. The event saw 11 cautions on the demanding one-mile oval slow the race for 55 laps. Five different drivers swapped the lead on seven occasions.

Gary St. Amant, who finished fifth, continues to hold a 121-point lead over Tim Sauter heading into the July 22 event at Salem Speedway. The Tecumseh 300 will take the green at 8 p.m. (Central) and will be telecast LIVE on TNN Sports.

Text provided by ASA

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