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USAC Formula Russell Championship Concludes; Top Three Drivers Go to England

6 November 1998

Important News from Russell Racing

Sonoma, CA - With the conclusion of the final round of the USAC Formula Russell Championship, the top three drivers have claimed their championship prizes of trips to England to represent Russell Racing on November 28 at the Jim Russell World Scholarships at Donington Park. Championship winner Tyler McQuarrie, runner up Jury Swanson, and third place finisher Dave McEntee will do their best to impress the judges that they are the best of the best and deserve to win a free season of racing in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Junior Series in England. Labeled the biggest prize in junior motorsports, it draws graduates from all three of Russells world-wide locations to compete in both sedans and formula cars for a chance to continue their quest to be professional racers.

The remaining seat on the airplane to England was not determined until the last race when Dave McEntee locked up the third place championship birth with third and second place finishes closing the season with 170 points. McEntee had 9 podium finishes in 18 races but failed to post a win all season.

I had the win but I gave it away, McEntee said after Sundays season finale. McEntee passed Steve Hill in the short straight between Turns 2 and 3 at Sears Point Raceway to take the lead on lap 11 of the 14 lap race but was second at the checkered flag. The race was mine with only a few laps left, unfortunatly I just made a small mistake in the chicane and Steve was able to get by me. Im pleased with my record in my first season of racing and Im looking forward to going to England, but a win in the last race would have made it all the sweeter.

We wish Tyler, Jury, and Dave all the best when they begin the competition next week said Ron Landthorn, president of Russell Racing. We had an outstanding season this year with more than 125 drivers taking part in the Formula Russell Championship. The drivers that made it into the top ten positions were all very competitive and these three should do very well in England.

The 1999 racing schedule was announced earlier this month with the first of 18 races starting on February 13. The USAC Formula Russell Championship is open drivers with recognized competition licenses and to graduates of the Russell Racing School and graduates of the other racing schools that meet series experience requirements.

Final Standings Top 20 
1998 USAC Formula Russell Championship 

1 Tyler McQuarrie 263 12 Yutaro Goto 99 2 Jury Swanson 194 13 Chase Mart 98 3 Dave McEntee 170 14 Pierre Ehret 90 4 Steve Hill 142 15 Fernando Ribeiro 88 5 Peter Ponder-Pistor 126 16 Kazuto Yagi 82 6 Chris Pettet 121 17 Barry Kirk 77 7 Brent Sherman 113 18 Doug Sorensen 74 8 Greg van den Dries 109 19 Bud Moeller 73 9 David Farley 104 20 Marek Rybskowski 69 10 Ken Snyder 102 tie Patrick McDowell 102

Drivers finishing in the top during round 9 of 9.

Saturdays heat races Race 1 1st Chris Pettet, 2nd Greg van den Dries, 3rd Dave McEntee Race 2 1st Chris Cuthill, 2nd Bob Hagerty, 3rd Jim Plimpton Race 3 1st Fernando Ribeiro, 2nd Chase Mart, 3rd Martin Abate Race 4 1st Doug Unger, 2nd Weyman Watson, 3rd Blair Casey

Sundays heat races Race 1 1st Leonardo Maia, 2nd Bob Hagerty, 3rd Chris Cuthill Race 2 1st Brian Sears, 2nd Toine van Happen, 3rd Wayne Yurtin Race 3 1st Steve Hill, 2nd Dave McEntee, 3rd Peter Ponder-Pistor