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USAC Sprints: "Vince Osman Classic" Offers 2nd Largest Winner's Purse

29 May 1998

Evans Kokomo Speedway race organizer Kent Evans has helped create the second largest winner's purse of the 1998 campaign for participants in this year's Stoops Freightliner/USAC National Sprint Car Championship.

The driver who wins the June 14 "Vince Osman Classic" at the 1/4-mile dirt track in Kokomo, Ind. will rake in no less than $7,500 in prizes, which includes contributions from McGavic Outdoor Power, Bud's Auto Sales, Stephens Machine Shop, Stephens Fabricating and the Evans Kokomo Speedway. Only the "Desert Star Classic" at Phoenix, Ariz. in April offers more to the winner, an $8,000 payout. Additional prizes and lap prizes may possibly swell the final Kokomo payout.

Kevin Thomas of Danville, Ind., the current point leader in the Stoops Freightliner series, and J.J. Yeley, last year's "Rookie of the Year," are expected to be two of the favorites for the June 14 race, along with defending two-time Stoops Freightliner Champion Brian Tyler of Parma, Mich. Thomas and Yeley won the two USAC Sprint races held last year at the Kokomo track.

Dave Darland, Kevin Doty and Tony Elliott are others who could pose a threat for victory June 14. They own the three dirt-track trophies so far this season, Elliott winning at Beaver Dam, Wisc. and Darland and Doty at Rossburg, Ohio. Two dirt-track races are slated for the series this weekend, tomorrow night's "Tony Hulman Classic" at Terre Haute, Ind. and Saturday night's "Robbie Stanley Classic" at Lawrenceburg, Ind.