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USAC: Red Hill Raceway Added For Sprints

22 September 1998

Sprint car veterans Kevin Thomas and Tony Elliott bring their torrid duel for the 1998 Stoops Freightliner/USAC National Sprint Car Championship to the 1/3-mile dirt Red Hill Raceway oval in Sumner, Ill. on Saturday night, October 3. Practice begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by qualifications at 6 and racing at 7. A 30-lap feature is scheduled.

The race, USAC's first at the track since Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. scored his initial USAC triumph in 1996, serves as the penultimate round of this year's National title chase and should be pivotal for Thomas and Elliott as both seek their initial USAC National driving title.

Thomas holds a mere seven point lead over Elliott going into this weekend's 18th Annual "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, with a total of 87 points available. Thomas' lone 1998 victory came at Attica, Ohio in June while Elliott's five 1998 wins have all come on dirt tracks. Elliott is one of only two drivers this season to win a USAC Silver Crown, Sprint and National Midget feature. The other is Dave Steele.

Cancellation of the "Terre Haute Nationals" by the race organizer created the opening in the USAC schedule for the newly-added Red Hill event.

The Stoops Freightliner/USAC National Sprint Car Series concludes October 25 at the Winchester (Ind.) Speedway.

Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Point Standings: 1-Kevin Thomas-1,718; 2-Tony Elliott-1,711; 3-Derek Davidson-1,443; 4-Tim Cox-1,260; 5-Dave Darland-1,223; 6-Jason McCord-1,190; 7-J.J. Yeley-1,189; 8-Kevin Doty-1,069; 9-Brian Hayden-1,064; 10-Brian Tyler-1,037.