Earl's Fast Qualifier 2004-09-20

Earl's Point Races Intensifying

Drivers challenging for the 2004 Earl's Plumbing Fast Qualifier Championships are preparing for pivotal races this weekend.

Tyler Walker's fast qualifying time at Tulsa, Okla. Saturday put him in contention for the Weld Racing Silver Crown qualifying honors, now trailing Dave Steele by eight points with nine available at Rossburg, Ohio in Friday's "4-Crown Nationals" series finale time trials.

Josh Wise now trails Levi Jones by only four points in the Valvoline National Sprint qualifying standings after posting fast time at Lebanon, Mo., Wednesday. The point lead is up for grabs this weekend at Rossburg, Ohio. Bud Kaeding was Saturday night's fast qualifier at Tulsa, Okla.

Wise also trails Bobby East by only nine points in National Midget qualifying going into this weekend's action at Rossburg, Ohio, while Tony Hunt continues to lead the Western Sprint Car qualifying points and Jerome Rodela is atop the Western Midget qualifying points. The Western Midgets compete at Ventura, Calif. Saturday.

Ford Focus qualifying leaders are Chris Rahe (California), Chase Scott (Carolina/Virginia) and Rex Norris III (Midwest). Norris has only a four-point lead on Jordan Noblitt going into this weekend's event at Lakeville, Ohio. The California series continues Saturday at Ventura, Calif. and the Carolina/Virginia Focuses race at Anderson, S.C. Saturday.

Points are traditionally awarded at each USAC event based on an international system awarding the top-six qualifiers with points in the following scale: 1st-9, 2nd-6, 3rd-4, 4th-3, 5th-2, 6th-1.

Each USAC National, Western and Ford Focus Midget Car Earl's Plumbing FQ Champion will be honored at USAC's Champions Night ceremony in Indianapolis in December. The National and Western FQ champs will receive $5,000 each, while the Ford Focus FQ champs will each receive $1,500.

2004 Standings:

Weld Racing Silver Crown
1-Dave Steele-40
2-Tyler Walker-32
3-Jay Drake-30
4-Jerry Coons, Jr.-28
5-Dane Carter-27.

Valvoline National Sprint Car
1-Levi Jones-61
2-Josh Wise-57
3-Dave Steele-49
4-Bud Kaeding-43
5-Jay Drake-37.

National Midget Car
1-Bobby East-70
2-Josh Wise-61
3-Dave Steele-56
4-Dave Darland-29
5-J.J. Yeley-28.

Valvoline Western Sprint Car
1-Tony Hunt-84
2-Michael Lewis-77
3-Brian McClish-34
4-Brad Bumgarner-26
5-Tim Barber-20.

Western Midget Car
1-Jerome Rodela-77
2-Garrett Hansen-62
3-Johnny Rodriguez-43
4-Steve Paden-42
5-Michael Lewis-26.

California Ford Focus
1-Chris Rahe-116
2-Josh Lakatos-86
3-Bradley Galedrige-65
4-Nick Morago-39
5-Bobby Michnowicz-34.

Carolina/Virginia Ford Focus
1-Chase Scott-79
2-Sam Beam-31
3-Danny Bopp-27
4-Mike Ward, Aron Oakley & Robbe Ray-21.

Midwest Ford Focus
1- Rex Norris III-53
2-Jordan Noblitt-49
3-Tate Martz-44
4-Ryan Litt-31
5-Brad Loyet-26.

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