Chicagoland recap, Indy ORP next

REUTIMANN TAKES SILVER CROWN POINT LEAD TO O.R.P.; YELEY TAKES "USG FIBEROCK 100" ON FRIDAY THE 13TH

Wayne Reutimann Jr. of Zephyr Hills, Fla. is the new leader in the USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K & N Engineering. He finished third in Friday's "USG Fiberock 100" at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. and has a 22-point margin over defending series champion Bud Kaeding in the new series points going into the July 26 "J.D. Byrider 100" at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind.

Call J.J. Yeley "Mr. Lucky" after his victory at Chicagoland. Tony Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR teammate, Yeley led all 67 laps of the 100-mile race in A.J. Foyt's Greer Special C & R/Chevy. It was his 13th career series win following his 13th career series pole and occurred on Friday the 13th!

Yeley, of Phoenix, Ariz., was never seriously challenged during the race which was interrupted by only two cautions for just 10 laps. On both restarts he was able to resume command of the race.

"It felt good to get the win for the team," said Yeley after the race. "I haven't won for so long I kinda forgot what it was like. I felt bad after the Darlington (S.C.) race in May where we had such a good car and had a tire go down. I didn't think they we're gonna let me back in the car. I told my wife I was running the Silver Crown race today (Friday the 13th) and she said be careful & only call her if I win. So I still get to talk to my family."

Tim Barber of San Francisco, Calif. scored his best-ever finish as Friday's runner-up, while series point leader Reutimann was third, Cameron Dodson was fourth and P.J. Jones was fifth.

The only yellows flew on lap 31 for Paul White, whose car was smoking in turn four and on lap 50 for Aaron Pierce slowing in turn 3. Yeley's pole speed was 174.842 mph.

Reutimann finished sixth and Kaeding 11th in last year's race at O'Reilly Raceway Park won by Brian Tyler.

-credit: usac