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1998 USAC Midget Champion Completes IRL Rookie Test

4 December 1998

Fort Worth, Texas -- Jay Drake, the 1998 United States Auto Club Midget Champion, became the second driver to complete his Pep Boys IRL rookie test today at Texas Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the Pennzoil Panther G Force. Tony Elliott completed his test earlier in the day.

Drake took just 55 laps (82.5 miles) to complete the phases of the test under the watchful eyes of Johnny Rutherford, Scott Goodyear and Pep Boys IRL executive Brian Barnhart.

It took 24 miles before Drake broke the 200 mph barrier with a speed on lap 16 of 202.12 mph. Drake's top speed of the day was 213.16 mph.

USAC Silver Crown stand-out Ryan Newman is next to test the Pennzoil Panther G Force. More updates will follow as the day continues.