Iowa: Series round two preview

JONES LEADS SILVER CROWN TO SATURDAY'S CASEY'S GENERAL STORES USAC TRIPLE CROWN "PRIDE OF IOWA"

Levi Jones, fresh from the first USAC Silver Crown victory of his career in February at Tucson, Ariz., will lead the series to Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa this Saturday for the Casey's General Stores USAC Triple Crown Pride of Iowa event at the 7/8-mile paved oval.

Beginning with practice at 11:30 am Saturday, drivers will aim at Shane Hmiel's 1-lap track qualifying mark of 142.560 mph.

Levi has more USAC feature starts at Iowa Speedway than any other driver (eight) but is still seeking his first win after finishing second to Cameron Dodson in last year's Iowa Speedway Silver Crown race.

Dodson has won the past two Silver Crown races at Iowa but did not compete in the Tucson series opener on the dirt in February.

Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind. bears watching Saturday, having won the 2007 Silver Crown race at Iowa, while defending series champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif., aiming for a record fourth Silver Crown title, is only three points behind Jones after finishing second at Tucson.

The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and Mopar National Midgets share Saturday's billing at the Iowa oval. The Midget race is 30 laps, the Sprint race is 50 laps and the Silver Crown race is 100 laps.

-source: usac