Anderson preview

DRAKE EYES ANDERSON'S "NIEBEL CLASSIC" SUNDAY
ELDORA SPRINT CAR OPENER RAINED OUT

Defending Valvoline USAC National Sprint Car Champion Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. opens defense of his 2004 title this Sunday afternoon as the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway hosts the "Glen Niebel Classic." Drake is also the defending champion of the Anderson race.

Drake missed last weekend's scheduled series opener at Rossburg, Ohio due to racing commitments in Florida but heavy overnight rains and unfavorable weather conditions forced cancellation of the racing program at the Eldora Speedway. The "Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic" at the 1/2-mile dirt track will now occur as the second leg of the 2005 "Border Wars" championship April 30 at Eldora.

Sunday's race at the 1/4-mile paved Anderson oval celebrates the storied career of long-time car owner and chief mechanic Glen Niebel, who passed away in 1999. A 50-lap feature event caps the day's program following complete preliminaries.

Defending Valvoline USAC Sprint Car Champions car entrants Dynamics, Inc. (Hoffman Auto Racing) will field a car for 2002 "Niebel" winner Tracy Hines at Anderson as the team continues to celebrate 76 years of motorsports involvement.

Former "Glen Niebel Classic" race winners Eric Gordon (2000) and Aaron Pierce (2003) are also among early race entrants, along with 2004 Valvoline "Indiana Sprint Week" Champion Levi Jones, 2004 USAC National Midget Champion Bobby East, Hoosier Auto Racing Fans "Driver of the Year" Jon Stanbrough, USAC Triple Crown Champ Dave Darland and 2004 USAC Sprint Car "Co-Rookies of the Year" Josh Wise and Josh Ford.

Racing Sunday is expected to begin at 2 pm and drivers will be aiming at Dave Darland's one-lap track qualifying record of 11.360 seconds.

--USAC--