Kokomo Race Report

ELLIOTT LEADS PENNZOIL "INDIANA SPRINT WEEK" TO ELDORA KRUSEMAN (2), PLETCH, HEWITT & DARLAND SCORE VICTORIES

Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind., despite the lack of a feature victory, emerged from the first five races of Pennzoil "Indiana Sprint Week" as the point leader going into Wednesday night's finale at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Top-10 finishes in all five feature events left Elliott with a 37-point lead over two-race winner Cory Kruseman. A ninth-place finish at Eldora assures Elliott of the 1999 Pennzoil "Indiana Sprint Week" title. Wednesday night's Eldora events begin with practice at 5 pm. Qualifying gets under way at 5:45 and racing starts at 8. The race, featuring the world's greatest non-winged Sprint car pilots, will be telecast nationally by ESPN2. Terry Pletch of Frankfort, Ind. came from 21st starting position to win Wednesday night's nationally-televised 29th "Tony Hulman Classic" at the Terre Haute Action Track in his Pletch Pools and Spas/Flora 66 Special. Jack Hewitt and J.J. Yeley trailed him at the checkered flag. Pletch passed Yeley for the lead six laps from the end of the 30-lapper. "I knew I was going to win this race," said a confident Pletch in victory lane. "My car was fantastic." Hewitt won Thursday night's 30-lapper at the Lawrenceburg Speedway, beating Yeley and Dave Darland in his Print Express/Valvoline/McCreary Special. Jack led all 30 laps around the 1/4-mile dirt oval. The first of Kruseman's two weekend victories came Friday night in the "Larry Rice Classic" at the Bloomington Speedway where he beat Chris LaFollette and Tracy Hines to the flag in the 30-lap race, leading wire-to-wire in his Ellis Race Cars/Moleterno Racing/Bob's Plastering Special. Darland and Hewitt both flipped during the feature but escaped injury. Darland captured Saturday night's 30-lapper at the Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. in the most spectacular finish in Pennzoil "Indiana Sprint Week" history. He came from behind to nip Yeley and Kruseman, who touched wheels exiting the final turn and had to settle for second and third respectively. The final lap was the only one Darland led in his Kroger/Sunny Delight/Pringles machine. "I never quite won one like that before," said an astonished Darland after the race. Kruseman caught Mike Mann on the 15th lap of Sunday night's 30-lapper at the Kokomo Speedway and led the rest of the way to beat Rusty McClure and Mann to the checkered flag. Elliott's ninth-place finish at Kokomo was his worst in the five races, having previously finished fourth twice, fifth and sixth. Turbines, Inc. fast qualifiers during the five races included Jay Drake (2), Jerry Coons, Jr., Kevin Miller and Kruseman. True Value semi winners included Miller, Drake, Justin Marvel, Chris LaFollette, Elliott, McClure, Aaron Mosley and Kruseman.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1.      Dave Darland    1,058           6.      Eric Gordon     597
2.      Tracy Hines     925             7.      Robbie Rice     512
3.      Tony Elliott    891             8.      Jack Hewitt     476
4.      Brian Tyler     671             9.      Brian Gerster   472
5.      Derek Davidson  605             10.     Terry Pletch    432

PENNZOIL "INDIANA SPRINT WEEK" STANDINGS

1.      Tony Elliott    270             6.      Terry Pletch    203
2.      Cory Kruseman   233             7.      Jack Hewitt     178
3.      J.J. Yeley      228             8.      Kevin Doty      175
        Kevin Briscoe   228             9.      Rusty McClure   152
5.      Dave Darland    219             10.     Jay Drake       149