USAC: Eldora Silver Crown Quick Facts
22 September 1998
What:The 18th Annual "4-Crown Nationals"
11th of 13 races in the 1998 USAC Silver Crown Series
(Also joined by the USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series, USAC
National Midget Series and UMP Modifieds)
Where:
Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio
1/2-mile high-banked dirt oval
When:
Friday & Saturday, September 25-26, 1998
Friday: Practice: 6:30 p.m.; Qualifying: following practice sessions
Saturday: 20-lap Qualifying Race: following sprint and midget
preliminaries
which begin at 7:30 p.m., with features to follow.
Distance:
25 miles/50 laps
Tickets:
Ticket information available by calling the track at (937) 338-3815
Posted Awards:
More than $31,000 (winner receives $8,500 minimum)
1997 Race Winner:
Kevin Huntley
1997 Series Champion:
Dave Darland
Current Points Leader:
Jason Leffler
Track Records:
(Qualifying) Jimmy Sills, 16.378 seconds, 109.904 mph, September
19, 1997
(Race) Steve Butler, 16 minutes, 30.53 seconds, September 30, 1990 Average speed: 90.861 mph
Race Notes:
This will be the Eldora Silver Crown debut for current point leader Jason Leffler. His closest pursuers both had solid performances in this event last year. Brian Tyler led most of the event before a tire problem relegated him to sixth, while Ryan Newman finished a season-best second.
Ohio connection. . .There are three Ohio drivers currently entered for this event, including "Mr. Eldora" himself, Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio. Hewitt, now an Indianapolis 500 veteran, has won this event a record seven times. The other Ohio drivers are Rusty McClure (Ashland) and Todd Kane (Powell). Both drivers are seeking their first series victory and Kane is in a close fight with Jerry Coons, Jr. for Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Year" honors.
Three 1998 Indianapolis 500 participants are entered in this event: Donnie Beechler, Jack Hewitt and J.J. Yeley.
There are two Turbines, Inc. "Rookie of the Year" candidates entered for this event: Jerry Coons, Jr. and Todd Kane.
Tony Elliott is one of only two drivers to win a 1998 feature in the Silver Crown, Stoops Freightliner Sprint and National Midget Series. Dave Steele joins Tony on that exclusive list, but not on the entry list for this event. Elliott is a serious threat for all three USAC features on Saturday evening.
Series Notes:
So far in 1998 there have been nine different winners in 10 events. One more different winner would break the series record. The current record of nine winners has been attained in four seasons, including Jeff Gordon's 1990 championship year in which there were nine winners in nine events.
Jimmy Sills, the only three-time series champion, could set yet another mark Saturday. He is closing in on Chuck Gurney for the most career laps led in the series. Gurney holds the record with 1,328. Sills, with his win at DuQuoin, now sits at 1,311.
Jack Hewitt looks to add to yet another USAC career milestone. Jack has the most career starts in Silver Crown history with 127. George Snider is close behind with 126.
Series Statistics: Silver Crown Point Standings 1998 Series Winners 1. Jason Leffler 442 Tony Stewart (2) 2. Brian Tyler 432 Donnie Beechler (1) 3. Ryan Newman 385 Tony Elliott (1) 4. Jimmy Sills 360 Russ Gamester (1) 5. Dave Darland 309 John Heydenreich(1) 6. Russ Gamester 305 Jason Leffler (1) 7. Jack Hewitt 287 Jimmy Sills (1) 8. J.J. Yeley 280 Dave Steele (1) 9. Robby Flock 279 Brian Tyler (1) 10. Dave Steele 259 Turbines, Inc."Rookies of the Race" 1998 Lap Leaders(839 total laps) Jerry Coons, Jr.(3) Jason Leffler 156 Todd Kane (3) Dave Steele 137 Brad Armstrong (1) Russ Gamester 127 Randy Bauer (1) Tony Stewart 118 Doug Didero (1) Jimmy Sills 82 Troy Regier (1) Tony Elliott 62 J.J. Yeley 38 Robby Flock 33 John Heydenreich 33 Pat Abold 16 Ryan Newman 13 Donnie Beechler 9 Kenny Irwin 9 George Snider 4 Brian Tyler 2
