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 IRWINDALE,
CA (March 27) -- Nineteen-year-old Bobby East came up one position
short of capturing the $50,000 bonus in the annual USAC Midget Car
Series Mopar Twin 25's at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday. The
soft-spoken driver motored past top qualifier Dave Steele on the ninth
circuit of the first 25-lap segment and then took the challenge to
start the second segment from the rear of the field in hopes of
collecting the $50,000 bonus for winning both races. In the second
segment, East passed 22 of the 24 race starters before the race ended
as did his chance at the $50,000 bonus payout. Thomas Meseraull won
the race ahead of the hard charging East. The USAC Midget Car Series
runs exclusively on Hoosier tires on both their dirt and pavement
events.
Thirty-nine cars were entered in qualifying with Dave
Steele setting fast time at 16.665 seconds followed by Ron Gregory
(17.074) in second and Bobby East in third (17.153).
Steele won the 8-lap Trophy Dash followed by Tracy
Hines, Ron Gregory, Bobby East and Michael Lewis.
In the first 25-lap feature, Dave Steele took the lead
from the drop of the green flag. On lap nine, Bobby East took over the
race lead. East led the remainder of the way to take the win followed
by Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Tom Hessert and Brad Kuhn.
In the second race, East started from the rear of the
field and had 25 laps to cross the finish line first and collect the
50K bonus payout. Thomas Meseraull won the race flag-to-flag, but the
real show was witnessing East's charge to the front after starting at
the rear of the field. Following Meseraull to the line was East in
second place and Brad Kuhn in third. Dave Darland and Ron Gregory
rounded out the top five.
Hoosier's USAC Product Manager Irish Saunders
commented on the win, "Last Fall Bobby tested some midget tires
for us at South Bend (IN) Speedway. Although by nature very quiet, he
did an awesome job." Saunders added, "Bobby's finish at
Irwindale doesn't surprise me at all."
The Irwindale race was serviced by Hoosier Tire West
located in Fresno, CA and can be contacted at (559) 485-4612.
The event was the second of the season for the USAC
National Midget Car Series. As a result of his win, Bobby East takes
over the series' points lead with 122 points followed by Dave Darland
with 99 markers. Dave Steele is in third with 82 points. USAC points
were awarded only for the first segment of Saturday's event, but not
for the special 25-lap $50,000 bonus segment.
The USAC Midget Series next scheduled event is April
24, at Beaver Dam, WI on dirt. Hoosier Tire Midwest will service the
event and can be reached at (217) 522-1955.
To learn more about the USAC Series visit their newly
redesigned website at www.usacracing.com.
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