Anderson Preview

The MCI WorldCom USAC National Midget Car Series resumes action after a month's hiatus, returning to the scene of its most recent event, the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, for this Saturday night's racing program. A 40-lap feature is scheduled on Anderson's 1/4-mile paved oval where Brian Gerster won on June 30. Practice gets under way at 6 pm and qualifying starts at 7. Racing commences at 8. Leffler, bidding to become the first driver to put together three straight USAC National Midget Car titles in 37 years, leads Newman by only 12 points. Third-place Ricky Shelton, only three points behind Newman in the standings, has been sidelined by a neck injury suffered at the 16th Street Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. The late Jimmy Davies was the last driver to win three consecutive National titles, taking the championship in 1960, 1961 and 1962.

MCI WORLDCOM/USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1.      Jason Leffler           166     6.      Brian Gerster           88
2.      Ryan Newman             154     7.      Dave Steele             80
3.      Ricky Shelton           151     8.      Jay Drake               72
4.      Jerry Coons, Jr.        111     9.      John Heydenreich        69
5.      Tracy Hines             101     10.     Ron Smoker              64