Phoenix Copper World preview, Las Vegas summary

STEELE SEEKS 4TH "COPPER WORLD" MIDGET WIN THURSDAY; NEWMAN, KAHNE, LEFFLER, EAST, WISE, HAMILTON SPICE PIR FIELD; SCHIFF WIRE-TO-WIRE IN LAS VEGAS 30-LAPPER

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. is aiming at a fourth victory in Thursday's "Copper World Classic" USAC Mopar National/Western Midget race presented by Fast Signs at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway.

Steele holds the 1-lap track qualifying record of 138.201 mph and owns victories in eight of the last dozen USAC races at PIR, including five Silver Crown wins.

National Midget point leader Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. enters Thursday's penultimate National race with a 39-point cushion over Cole Whitt of Alpine, Calif. A National title would make Hines a USAC "Triple Crown Champion" since he already owns titles in the Silver Crown and National Sprint series. The National series concludes in the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" November 27 at Irwindale, Calif.

USAC Western Midget point leader Nic Faas of Huntington Beach, Calif. has a healthy 133-point lead over Scott Pierovich of Alamo, Calif. and a good finish Thursday virtually assures him of the title entering the "Turkey Night" finale.

Zach Schiff of Dublin, Ohio led all 30 laps to win Saturday night's USAC Western Midget race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. Trailing Schiff's East Enterprises Beast/Mopar were Evan Margeson, Bobby East, Brad Loyet and Paul Zimmerly. Faas finished 14th. Mark Atkinson was the fastest qualifier for Saturday night's event but was the first to leave the feature event, finishing 21st. IRL and Indy 500 vet Davey Hamilton finished sixth and Indy 500 vet P.J. Jones won a heat race.

Hamilton is also entered for Thursday's Phoenix race, along with NASCAR stars Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler, Bobby East and Josh Wise.

-credit: usac