|
 INDIANAPOLIS,
IN (May 22) -- J.J. Yeley captured the USAC "Hoosier Twin
50s" at Indianapolis Raceway Park Thursday night. The win was his
first in the USAC National Silvercrown Series this season. The Phoenix,
AZ driver has now won at least once in all three of USAC's major
divisions this year. According to Hoosier's Manager of Contract Sales
Irish Saunders who attended the event, the race was one of the
"most exciting races" he has ever seen. The race featured
two 50-lap segments and in the final race, Yeley charged from fourth
to first in the final four laps to take the exciting win. The race
will be televised on SpeedChannel Friday (May 23) at 10:00 pm (ET).
The USAC Series uses Hoosier tires exclusively on their pavement
races.
A huge 49-car field was on hand for qualifying on the
IRP .686-mile asphalt oval. Dave Steele was the fastest qualifier at
20.660 seconds followed by Tyler Walker, Jason Leffler, J.J. Yeley and
Ron Gregory in second through fifth, respectively.
There were two qualifying races in which the slower
qualifiers could battle their way into the night's feature race. Chet
Fillip and Jason McCord were the two qualifying race winners.
In the first 50-lap segment, J.J. Yeley was the winner
after starting fourth. After a red flag stoppage at the halfway point,
the top five finishers in the first segment were inverted for the
start of the final 50 laps placing Yeley fifth. The race began with
Dave Darland taking the lead at the start of the final segment.
Darland held the lead for nine laps before being passed by J.J. Yeley.
Yeley then led for ten circuits before giving way to Dave Steele on
lap 70. Steele commanded the next 30 laps with Yeley falling to fourth
with four to go. But Yeley would not be denied picking off positions
until he had just one to go for the win. Steele and Yeley then battled
it out on the final circuit with Yeley making the exciting race
winning pass over Steele in the final turn. Yeley collected $9,850 for
the win with pole-sitter Dave Steele settling for runner-up honors and
a $4,900 payout. Brian Tyler finished in third place after starting
11th.
Dave Darland was impressive as well finishing in
fourth after starting 19th. Tracy Hines rounded out the top five.
The win by Yeley makes him eligible for a $50,000
bonus if he is able to win Friday's (May 23) "Hoosier
Hundred" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Since the race is on
dirt, competitors can run any tire brand--although the Hoosier brand
remains undefeated in the three major USAC divisions in 2003.
Dave Steele currently leads the USAC National
Silvercrown Series standings with 129 points followed by J.J. Yeley
with 111 points. Dave Darland and Tracy Hines are tied in third place
with 105 points apiece.
Special thanks to Hoosier's Irish Saunders who attended
the event and provided the details for this report.
|
