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USAC: Elliott-Drake 'Shootout' at Winchester for Sprint Car Title

17 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Indiana and California will square off Sunday in eastern Indiana, but the only goal post will be the 2000 Stoops Freigthliner Sprint Car Championship.

Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind. and Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. are separated by just 32 points with 72 available in Sunday's "Sammy Sessions Memorial" doubleheader at the 1/2-mile paved Winchester Speedway. The MCI WorldCom National Midget Cars share the billing with 33-lap feature events on tap for each series.

A seventh-place feature finish or better would lock up Elliott's second title in three years, but anything less opens the door for Drake, a former USAC Western Midget Car and two-time USAC TQ Midget Car Champ.

Elliott may have a slight edge, having finished 13th in the April 30 race at Winchester, while Drake did not compete. Neither has ever won at the storied 1/2-mile.

Ryan Newman holds the 1-lap Sprint car track record of 126.325 mph, set in August of 1999, and Dave Steele set the 33-lap Sprint Car record of 118.426 mph in 1998. Steele and Tracy Hines have won the last six USAC Sprint Car races at Winchester, Tracy taking the last two.

Sunday's practice starts at 11 am, with qualifying at 1 pm and racing at 2.

USAC STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tony Elliott 1,311
2. Jay Drake 1,279
3. Tracy Hines 1,143
4. J.J. Yeley 1,078
5. Derek Davidson 1,036
6. Dave Darland 919
7. Bud Kaeding 891
8. Eric Gordon 870
9. Brian Tyler 768
10. Jonathan Vennard 630

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.