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NorthernLight IRL: Series drivers staying busy between Kentucky, Texas races

3 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS- Indy Racing Northern Light Series drivers are staying busy in the six-week hiatus between The Belterra Resort Indy 300 and the season-ending Excite 500, with many taking the wheel of other types of race cars to stay sharp.

J.J. Yeley won the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series "4-Crown Nationals" feature Sept. 30 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Yeley won the pole and then dominated the 50-lap feature, leading the last 47 laps.

Yeley is fifth in the Silver Bullet Series point standings, 64 points behind leader Dave Darland. Yeley drives the WorldBestBuy.com/Jonathan Byrds Cafeteria G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone in the Northern Light Series. Scott Sharp and Scott Goodyear returned to their road-racing roots last weekend by competing in the New Beetle Cup race Sept. 30 during the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

Goodyear finished fourth in the 30-minute race, won by Hans Stuck. Sharp finished 12th after an unscheduled pit stop.

Mark Dismore finished 24th in the ASA 200 stock-car race Sept. 23 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Dismores 20-year-old son, Mark E. finished 17th. Mark E. Dismore is a rookie in the ASA ACDelco series. It was the first time that the Dismores competed against each other.

The elder Dismore drives the On Star/Bryant Heating & Cooling/GM BuyPower Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone in the Northern Light Series.

Davey Hamilton, the only driver to start all 42 Indy Racing League events, won the USAC Western Sprint Car Series feature Sept. 16 at Madera (Calif.) Speedway.

Goin fishin: Panther Racing crew chief Kevin Blanch has stayed busy during the down time between the Kentucky and Texas races by leading the Panther Pack in its preparation of the Pennzoil Panther Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone that Scott Goodyear will drive in the Excite 500.

But Blanch also has found some time for his leisure-time passion, bass fishing. Blanch is fishing for three days this week on the White River in Arkansas with noted television fishing show host Jimmy Houston.

A segment featuring Blanch and Houston will be featured this winter on an episode of Houstons popular fishing show.

J. Lazier joins TeamXtreme: Northern Light Series veteran Jaques Lazier will drive the FreeInternet.com/TeamXtreme G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone in the season-ending Excite 500 on Oct. 15 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Lazier drove for Truscelli Team Racing in five of the first seven races this season before moving to Mid America Motorsports for The Belterra Resort Indy 300 on Aug. 27 at Kentucky Speedway.

"I remain committed to my contractual obligation with Truscelli for this season and look forward to driving the Freeinternet.com G Force and to working with a team the caliber of TeamXtreme for the season finale and, perhaps, next season," Lazier said. "Its a wonderful opportunity, and I can t wait to get in the seat."

TeamXtreme also fields the Uproar.com/TeamXtreme G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone driven by RaceSearch.com Rookie of the Year points leader Airton Dare.

Hamilton, TeamXtreme part company: TeamXtreme Racing and Davey Hamilton announced they will not race together in the 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season.

Hamilton has driven the teams FreeInternet.com G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone in the first eight races of the season. Hamilton is the only driver to start all 42 events in Indy Racing League history.

"Davey is a talented veteran driver who is getting a bunch of interest from other Indy Racing Northern Light Series teams for next season," said John Lopes, TeamXtreme general manager. "This early announcement provides Davey the ability to test for those teams who have interest in his significant talent and time to put a deal together for next season."

Hot laps: Indy Racing veteran Mark Dismore and rookie Sarah Fisher will appear and sign autographs at the Washington D.C. Motorsports Expo on Dec. 8-10 at Chantilly, Va. Series sponsor Northern Light also will exhibit an Indy Racing car at the expo .... Cody Unser, daughter of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., visited New York last week as part of her role with Codys First Step Foundation. Cody formed the organization after she contracted transverse myelitis, a spinal virus that causes paralysis. Cody attended a birthday party for paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve, attended the annual "Sports Legends" fundraiser and appeared on the nationally syndicated "Imus in the Morning" morning radio show in an effort to increase awareness of transverse myelitis.

Text Provided By Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.