Irwindale Preview

McCORD, DeBEAUMONT SCORE WINS AT MADERA SPRINTS, MIDGETS JOIN COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLETS AT IRWINDALE SATURDAY

Jason McCord of Anderson, Ind. and Marc DeBeaumont of Clayton, Calif. captured USAC feature events at Madera (Calif.) Speedway Sunday night and now prepare for this Saturday night's USAC "tripleheader" at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway featuring the Western Sprint Cars and MCI WorldCom Western Midget Cars in addition to the Coors Light Silver Bullet Cars. McCord led all 30 laps of the Madera Sprint feature after starting on the pole in his Hat World/PayLess Super Markets/Roundy's/Weidner Chevrolet. The win was his first in Western Sprint competition. Bobby McMahan, Todd Ellison, Rick Williams and Tony Hunt rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag on the 1/3-mile paved oval. Western Sprint Car point leader Bud Kaeding spun during the 30-lap race and ended up sixth but he holds a commanding lead in the standings going into the Irwindale events. Davey Hamilton was Saturday's fastest Madera Sprint qualifier. DeBeaumont extended his MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car point lead after fighting off the challenge of Chuck Gurney, Jr. to win the 30-lap Madera feature in his J & R Motorsports Gaerte. John Starks, Travis Johnson, Davey Hamilton and Sleepy Tripp completed the "top-five." Jason Leffler was the fastest Madera Midget Car qualifier but spun early in the race and eventually retired. Gurney ran second until spinning on the 28th lap. Practice at Irwindale Saturday is slated to start at noon for Midget Cars, 12:30 for Sprint Cars and 1 pm for Silver Bullet. A 30-lap Sprint and Midget Car feature are planned in addition to the 100-lap Coors Light Silver Bullet race.

WESTERN SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1.      Bud Kaeding     898             6.      Todd Ellison    593
2.      Bobby McMahan   746             7.      Tom Stansberry  518
3.      Rick Williams   742             8.      Jeff Gardner    498
4.      Rick Hendrix    699             9.      Mike Boat       437
5.      Tony Hunt       620             10.     Curtis Brown    434

MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS

1.      Marc DeBeaumont 489             6.      Steve Paden     243
2.      Shane Scully    427             7.      Jason Leffler   216
3.      Alex Harris     377             8.      Rick Hendrix    190
4.      Bobby Boone     374             9.      Sleepy Tripp    172
5.      Wally Pankratz  289             10.     Clay Klepper    152