Beaver Dam: Race notes

35TH "TONY HULMAN CLASSIC" SATURDAY AT TERRE HAUTE
NEELY RECORDS 1ST SPRINT VICTORY AT BEAVER DAM

The Valvoline USAC National Sprint Car Series is preparing for this Saturday's 35th "Tony Hulman Classic" at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track and defending series champion and former race winner Jay Drake will lead the series to the track, which once again sports the famous red, white and blue guardrails.

Drake, who won the Terre Haute classic in 2000, finished seventh behind winner Mat Neely in Saturday night's 30-lap race at the Raceway @ Powercom Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. and leads Dave Darland by five points and Neely by 13 going into the "Tony Hulman Classic." Practice at the 1/2-mile dirt track gets under way at 5:30 pm and racing starts at 7.

Neely, of Robinson, Ill. notched his first career series win at Beaver Dam, leading all 30 laps to beat Levi Jones, Darland, Darren Hagen and Jerry Coons, Jr. Neely piloted the K & N Racing Low Voltage Solutions/Maverick Energy Twister/Gaerte.

In addition to Drake, former "Tony Hulman Classic" Champions expected to compete in Saturday's Terre Haute program include J.J. Yeley (2003), Jon Stanbrough (2002), Terry Pletch (1999) and Dave Darland (1993).

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Jay Drake-171
2.-Dave Darland-166
3.-Mat Neely-158
4.-Tom Hessert III-141
5.-Bud Kaeding-136
6.-Jerry Coons, Jr.-118
7.-Levi Jones-116
8.-Aaron Pierce-87
9.-Josh Wise-81
10.-Darren Hagen-78

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