Eldora "4-Crown" Report

NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES MIDGET VICTORY OPENS INCREDIBLE "4-CROWN" SWEEP FOR JACK HEWITT LEFFLER, DRAKE REMAIN 19 POINTS APART IN NATIONAL TITLE CHASE

Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. continues to lead Jay Drake of Canyon Country, Calif. by 19 points after they scored identical points during the weekend's 18th Annual "4-Crown Nationals" events at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Leffler finished eighth after posting the fastest qualifying time, while Drake was fifth in the 25-lap main event on the 1/2-mile dirt oval. Four races remain in the 1998 title chase.

Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio began his remarkable "sweep" of Saturday night's "4-Crown" races by passing Tracy Hines with eight laps remaining in his Parker Machinery Gaerte. Hines came in second ahead of Dave Darland, Tony Elliott and Drake. Ricky Shelton, third in the 1998 point race, was the first driver to drop out of the race.

National Midget Standings: 1-Jason Leffler-843; 2-Jay Drake-824; 3-Ricky Shelton-748; 4-Jerry Coons, Jr.-597; 5-Tracy Hines-552; 6-Jimmy McCune-517; 7-Ronnie Johncox-321; 8-Travis Welpott-315; 9-Michael Lewis-264; 10-Sarah McCune-246.