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USAC: Tony Stewart returns for Wednesday's 'Dupont 100' at Indianapolis Raceway Park

29 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Tony Stewart, who swept USAC's "Triple Crown" in 1995, returns to the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series wars Wednesday night to compete in the "Dupont 100" at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He will drive the George Snider/A.J. Foyt entry in his first Silver Bullet appearance of the season and his first USAC appearance since last November's "Turkey Night Grand Prix" Midget Car race at Irwindale, Calif.

One of Tony's three Silver Bullet career wins came in the 1998 "Coca-Cola 100" at IRP and he also owns five Midget Car and three Sprint Car feature wins at the .686-mile paved oval.

Stewart will be among drivers trying to break Chuck Leary's 1-lap track qualifying record of 119.442 mph set last year when qualifications get under way at 5 pm. A 15-lap "qualifying race" commences at 7 and the 100-lap feature event will follow.

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. holds the 100-lap race record of 100.383 mph, set last August, and is among challengers who will try to keep Tony from victory lane.

Brian Tyler of Parma, Mich., who won the series opener at Orlando, Fla. in January, continues to lead the Silver Bullet standings by 34 points over Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind., one of two drivers with two victories this year. Hines won at Nazareth, Pa. in April and Madison, Ill. in May, while Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. won at Phoenix, Ariz. in February and at IRP in May. Leffler will be out to defend his May "Coca-Cola 100" victory in a car co-owned by Stewart and Indianapolis car builder Bob East.

Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif., whose 10 USAC feature victories in various racing series leads all other drivers so far this year, won the latest Silver Bullet race at Knoxville, Iowa, and looks to add to his impressive season resume in Wednesday night's 100-lapper.

Throw in "top-5" point ranking drivers Ryan Newman, Dave Darland and Brad Noffsinger and you have the makings of a true American racing classic.

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

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