USAC: Beechler Wins A.J. Foyt's Hulman Hoosier Hundred
23 May 1998
INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 1998) - Donnie Beechler of Springfield, Ill., who will start Sunday's Indianapolis 500 from the 31st starting position, captured A.J. Foyt's True Value "Hulman Hoosier Hundred" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Friday night, round four of the 1998 USAC Silver Crown Championship Series.Beechler was leading the race when a three-car accident involving Indianapolis 500 starter Jack Hewitt, defending Hulman Hundred race winner Chuck Leary and Billy Puterbaugh brought out the second red flag of the race on lap 40. Ensuing rain forced a premature end to the event, with Beechler proclaimed the race winner.
The victory was Beechler's fifth in Silver Crown competition as he came from fourth starting position in the 32-car field in the Gaerte Engines/Pro Shocks Chevy.
Defending USAC National Midget Champion Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. finished second after leading 17 laps, while pole starter and fast qualifier Jimmy Sills of Placerville, Calif. took third after leading the first 13 miles around the 1-mile dirt oval.
There were no serious injuries in any of the incidents, although series point leader Brian Tyler escaped two separate flips.
J.J. Yeley, also a "rookie" in this Sunday's Indianapolis 500, finished ninth in Friday night's Silver Crown feature. Todd Kane of Powell, Ohio earned the Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race" for his 10th-place finish.
Results Friday night from the running of A.J. Foyt's True Value "Hulman Hoosier Hundred" USAC Silver Crown Championship Race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:
1. (4) Donnie Beechler, Springfield, Ill., 39, $9,250; 2. (8) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 39, $5,100; 3. (1) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 39, $3,250; 4. (5) Dave Darland, Walton, Ind., 39, $2,500; 5. (7) Chuck Gurney, Livermore, Calif., 39, $1,800; 6. (2) Ronnie Day, Salinas, Calif., 39, $1,600; 7. (18) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 39, $1,400; 8. (30) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 39, $1,200; 9. (6) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 39, #$1,100; 10. (19) Todd Kane, Powell, Ohio, 39, $1,250; 11. (21) George Snider, Bakersfield, Calif., 39, $900; 12. (9) Cary Faas, Yorba Linda, Calif., 39, $800; 13. (3) Wally Pankratz, Orange, Calif., 39, $700; 14. (22) Kevin Thomas, Danville, Ind., 39, $600; 15. (24) Robby Flock, Murrieta, Calif., 39, $500; 16. (25) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 39, $500; 17. (20) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 39, $500; 18. (26) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 39, Accident, $500; 19. (23) Tony Elliott/Kokomo, Ind., 39, $500; 20. (28) Travis Rilat, Texas City, Texas, 39, $500; 21. (27) Bill Rose, Plainfield, Ind., 39, $400; 22. (29) Lou Cicconi, Jr., Aston, Pa., 39, $400; 23. (17) Chuck Leary, Greenfield, Ind., 37, Accident, $400; 24. (16) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 36, 25. (12) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 34, 26. (14) Johnny Parsons, Indianapolis, Ind., 34, Brakes, 27. (15) Greg Stephens, Russiaville, Ind., 34, $300; 28. (31) Jimmy Stinson, Englewood, Ohio, 32, Engine, $300; 29. (13) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 20, Ignition, $300; 30. (11) Tim Cox, Park City, Ill., 16, Overheating, $300; 31. (35) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 3, Accident, $300; 32. (32) John Barrick, Lincoln, IL, 1, Brake Line, $300. Average Speed: None, Red Flag. Time of Race: None, Red Flag. Caution Flags: RED FLAG on lap 4, Tyler flipped in turn 3; Laps 6-11, Stephens spun in turn 3; Laps 21-24, Leary spun in turn 3; Laps 36-38, Heydenreich stalled in turn 2; RED FLAG on lap 40, Hewitt-Leary-Puterbaugh accident in turn 1. Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers Lap Leaders: Sills 1-13; Leffler 14-30, Beechler 31-39. Fastest Qualifier: Jimmy Sills, 31.911 seconds, 112.813 mph. Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Race": Todd Kane New Silver Crown Point Standings: 1-Jason Leffler-191; 2-Brian Tyler-159; 3-Ryan Newman-148; 4-Dave Darland-139; 5-Jimmy Sills-136; 6-Russ Gamester-133; 7-J.J. Yeley-129; 8-Tony Stewart-123; 9-Jack Hewitt-122; 10-Chet Fillip-121.Next Silver Crown Race: June 5-7 - Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park
