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 ATTICA,
OH (June 18) -- The USAC Series began its four-night Buckeye Nationals
starting at Attica Raceway Park Wednesday night with Dave Darland
winning the National Midget Car Series portion of the event, while
red-hot J.J. Yeley continues to baffle the competition winning the
National Sprint Car Series portion of the dual venue. In the 30-lap
midget feature, Dave Darland was the fourth and final race leader en
route to claiming his first win of the season in the series. While in
the sprint car portion of the night, J.J. Yeley led twice for 26 laps
in the 30-lap feature for his fifth win in 11 races contested to date
in the USAC National Sprint Car Series. The USAC Buckeye Nationals
event is being attended by Hoosier's Open Wheel Dirt Product Manager
Neil Cowman who reported the details for this report.
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES
The USAC National Midget Car Series uses a Hoosier spec tire on
all four corners regardless whether the series competes on dirt or
pavement. So a Hoosier-shod winner was never in doubt. The night began
with four 10-lap heat races which were won by Steve Buckwalter, Tracy
Hines, Cory Kruseman and Ron Gregory.
In the 30-lap feature, Steve Buckwalter was the early
race leader. Buckwalter led the first seven laps before giving way to
fellow heat race winner Tracy Hines. Hines led the next five circuits
before he was passed by Cory Kruseman on lap 13. Kruseman's lead
lasted through lap 20 before being overtaken by Dave Darland who had
finished third in his heat race. Darland led the final 10 laps to
capture the win--his first of the season in the series.
Following Darland to the line was Shane Cottle, J.J.
Yeley, Bobby East and Jay Drake.
J.J. Yeley continues to lead in the USAC National
Midget Car Series with 596 points followed by Bobby East with 570
points. Tracy Hines (561), A.J. Fike (507) and Jay Drake (441) round
out the top five.
USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES
A Hoosier-shod winner wasn't a sure thing as was the case in the
midget portion of the night since there is no Hoosier tire rule in the
Sprint Car Series when they compete on dirt. Still, fully 37 of the 46
drivers in qualifying opted to run the Hoosier brand. J.J. Yeley set
fast time with a lap of 14.566 seconds around the 1/3-mile dirt oval.
Yeley, who drives the Tony Stewart sponsored #20, was followed by
Tracy Hines (14.711) and John Wolfe (14.773) giving the Hoosier brand
the top three times in qualifying.
All four 10-lap heat races were also won by drivers
using Hoosier tires. Ironically, three different Hoosier compounds
were used to capture the four wins. J.J. Yeley won the first heat
using a D10 compound as his right rear selection, while Tracy Hines
won the second heat using a Hoosier RD12 compound. Matt Westfall won
the third heat using a D15 tire, while Kyle Wissmiller won the final
heat using Hoosier's RD12 compound.
In the 30-lap feature, 18 of the 23 starters rode on
Hoosier tires. John Wolfe led the opening lap before giving way to
Cory Kruseman on lap number two. Kruseman's lead would be brief
however, as the driver of the Tony Stewart sponsored #21, was passed
by fellow Stewart sponsored driver J.J. Yeley on lap three. The two
swapped the lead back and forth twice before Yeley took command on lap
six. Yeley led the remainder of the way and won the race while riding
atop a pair of Hoosier RD12's. Kevin Briscoe finished in second place
also on a pair of RD12's, while young Boston Reid took third place
using a Hoosier RD12/D15 combination.
All told, the Hoosier brand captured the top six
positions and nine out of the top ten in the night's feature race. Rounding
out the list of Hoosier-shod top ten finishers were Dickie Gaines
(4th), Cory Kruseman (5th), Tracy Hines (6th), Bud Kaeding (8th), Jac
Haudenschild (9th), and John Wolfe (10th).
J.J. Yeley (704) extended his lead in the USAC
National Sprint Car Series over Tracy Hines (608), Jay Drake (542),
Bud Kaeding (527) and Boston Reid (502).
The second leg of the four-night Buckeye Nationals
will be at The New Freemont Speedway in Freemont, OH on Thursday night
when both the Midget Car Series and the Sprint Car Series will be in
action.
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