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 NORTH
VERNON, IN (July 15) -- J.J. Yeley returned to his roots Thursday
night at Twin Cities Raceway Park competing in the 17th annual USAC
Indiana Sprint Week opener. Last year's USAC Triple Crown winner
showed he still knows how to wheel a sprint car coming from 13th place
in the 30-lap USAC National Sprint Car Series feature to capture the
win before a stunned crowd. After qualifying 17th, Yeley led only one
lap, but luckily for him it was the one that had the checkered flag
waving at its completion. Yeley was one of 65 cars jamming the pits at
the 3/8-mile track with 50 on the drivers opting to trust the Hoosier
brand.
Levi Jones set fast time of the 65 competitors using a
Hoosier D10 on his right rear tire position. Jones circled the track
in 13.930 seconds. He was followed by Dave Darland and Josh Wise as
the Hoosier brand claimed the top three spots, and nine of the top
ten, in qualifying.
Both qualifying races were won by Hoosier-shod drivers
with Kent Christian winning the first 6-lap race using a Hoosier RD12
tire and Scotty Weir capturing the second on a Hoosier D10.
In heat race action, all four winners were members of
Team Hoosier including Tony Elliot using a D12 (RR), Kris Deckard
using a D10, Eric Davis also on a D10, and Marc Jessup using a Hoosier
RD12. In the final race before the feature, Dave Darland won the
12-lap Semi race using a D12.
In the 30-lap feature, 21 of the 23 starters rode atop
Hoosier tires. Jay Drake using a pair of RD12's (LR/RR) took the lead
on the opening lap. Drake led through lap four before being passed by
Josh Wise. Wise was in control through lap 20, before Drake retook the
race lead. Drake led the next nine circuits leading to the final lap.
That is when J.J. Yeley made his final charge to the front after
starting in 13th. With Drake forced to slow momentarily for a lapped
car, it was just the opening the defending series champion needed to
claim his first series win of the year.
Yeley, who took the win using a pair of RD12's, was
followed to the line by Jay Drake, Levi Jones (RD12/RD15) and Josh
Wise in second through fourth, respectively. Rounding out the list of
top ten finishers on Hoosiers was Bud Kaeding in sixth followed by Jon
Stanbrough, Dickie Gaines, Cory Kruseman and Brian Lee.
The second of seven night's of racing making up the
Indiana Sprint Week will continue tonight (July 16th) at Gas City,
Indiana's I-69 Speedway.
Our thanks go out to compound engineer Jon Huffman for
reporting the details used in this report. Jon will also be in the
pits Friday night to monitor tire performance.
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