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 PHOENIX,
AZ (March 19-21) -- The United States Auto Club (USAC) kicked off its
2004 season with the 27th annual Copper World event in Phoenix over the
weekend. Defending USAC triple crown winner J.J. Yeley (photo) won the USAC
National/Western Midget Series race at Phoenix International Raceway
on Saturday taking the lead from David Steele with two laps remaining
in the 25-lap feature. While in the USAC Silver Crown Series race,
David Steele led every lap of the 100-lap feature en route to
collecting the season opening event win. It was Steele's third
consecutive Copper World Silver Crown win. The USAC Series uses a
Hoosier-only tire-rule when competing on paved surfaces such as
Phoenix International Raceway.
USAC NATIONAL/WESTERN MIDGET SERIES
PHOENIX, AZ (MARCH 19-20) -- Thirty-seven cars were on hand Friday for qualifying on the famous 1-mile paved oval in the desert.
David Steele was fast qualifier setting a new track record of 26.049
seconds breaking his own track record while averaging 138.201
mph on his qualifying run. J.J. Yeley was second followed by Bobby
East.
In the 25-lap feature on Saturday, J.J. Yeley burst
into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Yeley led the first 15
circuits before giving way to David Steele on lap 16. Steele led the
next 8 miles before relinquishing the lead back to Yeley who held on
to capture the 27th Copper World Classic--his 51st USAC win.
Following Yeley to the line was Steele in second place
and Bobby East in third. Tracy Hines and Josh Wise rounded out the top
five. Richey Jacobs, Dave Darland, Ryan Scott, Davey Ray and Jay Drake
rounded out the top ten.
The next USAC National/Western Midget Series race is
March 27th at California's Irwindale Speedway for the running of the
Mopar Twin 25s which pays a $50,000 bonus to any driver winning both
features. The catch is, the winner of the first race must start from
the rear of the field in the second race. If that driver passes the
entire field then they will receive the $50,000 bonus.
USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES
PHOENIX, AZ (MARCH 20-21) -- Forty-nine cars were on hand for
qualifying Saturday with David Steele setting another new track record
for the second consecutive day. Steele circled the 1-mile oval in
25.317 seconds followed by Tyler Walker at 25.468 seconds and J.J.
Yeley in third with a lap of 25.642 seconds.
In the 100-lap feature, Dave Steele started on the
pole for the sixth time in the last seven years for the annual USAC
Silver Crown Series Copper World Classic. Steele, who led all 100 laps
en route to capturing the win, was followed by Tracy Hines, Chet
Fillip, Aaron Pierce and Jason McCord. Completing the list of top ten
finishers in the 36-car field were Russ Gamester, Michael Lewis, Brian
Tyler, Carl Edwards and Paul White.
The next race in the USAC Silver Crown Series is May
7-8, at Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is proud to be the exclusive
tire provider to the USAC Series when the series competes on pavement.
For more information about the USAC Series visit their website at www.usacracing.com.
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