Kokomo, Indianapolis, Winchester Notes

Defending Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car Champion Tony Elliott captured Sunday night's 30-lap feature event at his "home" track - the Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. The win solidified his third-place point ranking going into events this week at Indianapolis Raceway Park Wednesday night and Winchester (Ind.) Speedway Sunday afternoon. Wednesday's nationally-televised events (ESPN2) at IRP comprise the "Turbines Sprint Car Challenge" as Dave Darland tries to protect his series point lead over Tracy Hines and Tony Elliott, who are battling for the runner-up spot. Practice at IRP starts at 6 pm, with qualifying at 7 and racing at 8. A 30-lap feature caps the program. Sunday's 27th Annual McDonald's "Winchester Oldtimers Weekend" slate has practice at noon, qualifying at 1 pm and racing at 2. The feature is 30 laps. Elliott's Kokomo victory, amazingly enough, was his first this year on the dirt! His only previous win came at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway on the pavement. He took the lead from Mike Mann on the 18th lap and never looked back as he wheeled the Jam-It-In Storage/Lamers Stealth to the win over Mann, Joe Roush, Kevin Briscoe and Todd Kane. Jay Drake led the first 15 laps and Mann led the next two before yielding to Elliott. Darland finished eighth and series point runner-up Tracy Hines, after posting the Turbines, Inc. fast qualifying time, was 15th. Drivers will be aiming at Dave Steele's 1-lap IRP track record of 123.068 mph Wednesday, then target Brian Tyler's 1-lap Winchester track record of 125.971 mph. Sunday.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1.      Dave Darland    1,153           6.      Eric Gordon     598
2.      Tracy Hines     1,027           7.      Jack Hewitt     552
3.      Tony Elliott    999             8.      Robbie Rice     543
4.      Brian Tyler     735             9.      Rusty McClure   500
5.      Derek Davidson  605             10.     Terry Pletch    492