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USAC Silver Crown: The Week In Review

7 July 1998

Elliott Scores Initial SC Win in Terre Haute's "Sumar Classic 100"

"Rocky Mountain Classic" at Pikes Peak International Raceway This Weekend Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind. scored his initial USAC Silver Crown Championship race victory in Friday night's Pepsi Cola "Sumar Classic 100" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, leading 62 of the 100 laps around the 1/2-mile dirt track in his Columbus Container/Jerico Mold Chevy. He took the lead for the final time on the 95th lap from Indy Racing League veteran J.J. Yeley when Yeley slid wide in turn two.

The Silver Crown Championship Cars will compete this weekend in the "Rocky Mountain Classic" at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo. A 100-mile race is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, following a 25-mile USAC Midget feature. Silver Crown practice is slated Saturday from 9-10 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m. Silver Crown qualifying is scheduled Saturday from 2-2:45 and a 15-mile Silver Crown "qualifying" race gets the green at 4:15.

"I got the lead right at the start, then J.J. got around me but we finally got him back," said Elliott after his Terre Haute victory. Fortunately he had a problem and we were able to close on him at the end. The guys had it (the car) hooked up real well and I'm just glad we're up here (on the podium). It was real tiring but real fun."

Jack Hewitt, who suffered minor injuries in a USAC Sprint car crash Wednesday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park, returned to win the pole for Friday night's race but failed to finish, eventually involved in a crash with Jimmy Sills on lap 53. Both drivers were unhurt.

Yeley ended up second, ahead of Brian Tyler, Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. and Turbines Inc. "Rookie of the Race" Todd Kane. David Bridges of Indianapolis, Ind. escaped in jury in a flip over the guardrail during a "qualifying" race.

Friday night's race was the 200th in USAC Silver Crown history and Elliott's take of nearly $12,000 included a bonus of 200 $10 bills from Terre Haute First National Bank.

Silver Crown Point Standings: 1-Jason Leffler-274; 2-Brian Tyler-261; 3-Ryan Newman-232; 4-J.J. Yeley-219; 5-Jimmy Sills-212; 6-Dave Darland-185; 7-Dave Steele-171; 8-Jack Hewitt-165; 9-Russ Gamester-149; 10-Davey Hamilton-138.