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USAC: USAC Stars Ready to Invade the Rockies

10 July 1998

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Rocky Mountains will echo with the thunder of USAC Silver Crown and Midget racing this weekend as the stars of USAC racing return for the second annual "Rocky Mountain Classic" at the Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs, Colo. The weekend program will feature the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series and the USAC National and Western States Midget Series in a combined show.

Jason Leffler, in only his first full season of Silver Crown racing, leads the series into round seven of the 13-race championship. Jason, the 1997 National Midget champion, will face a number of talented rivals including Pep Boys Indy Racing League veterans Dave Steele, Davey Hamilton, Jack Hewitt, Donnie Beechler and Brian Tyler. Tyler currently stalks Leffler in second place, having already won the first race of the season at Walt Disney World Speedway. Look for Dave Steele to be strong as well. Dave is always a threat on the paved tracks, and he comes into this event having recently scored his first series victory at Memphis, Tenn.

The National Midget Series joins the Western States Midget Series for the PPIR event, with Ricky Shelton and Rick Hendrix leading those two series respectively. Shelton has been on a hot streak in recent years. He won the USAC TQ Midget title in 1996, the Western States Midget title in 1997, and he has already won four events in 1998 as he seeks to earn a third consecutive title in three different series. Among the hot picks to watch will be Ryan Newman, who set the PPIR oval on fire last year setting an all-time USAC Midget record of 139.265 mph in qualifying before winning the feature event. Joining Ryan as challengers are 1998 Indianapolis 500 participants Andy Michner and Jimmy Kite as well as defending series champion Jason Leffler, 1997 runner-up Tracy Hines, Robby Flock, Jay Drake and Dave Steele.

Saturday's schedule will include Silver Crown practice sessions at 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Midget practice sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. Silver Crown qualifying will begin at 2:00 p.m., immediately followed by Midget qualifying. Saturday will conclude with qualifying races in both divisions which will complete the starting lineups for Sunday. The schedule for Sunday calls for the 25-mile Midget feature at 12:30 p.m. followed by the 100-mile Silver crown feature at 1:30 p.m..

Both races will be televised on ESPN2 on Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Tickets remain available for this event by calling PPIR at 888-306-RACE.