Pikes peak race report

Fountain, Colo. - Results Sunday (June 17) from the running of the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Pikes Peak International Raceway, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. captured Sunday's 100-mile USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet race at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo. It was Dave's third victory in the series, having won at Memphis, Tenn. in 1998 and Indianapolis, Ind. in 1999.

"We really need this win," Steele admitted in victory lane. "I was fortunate to unload the car pretty good but it surprised me that the car was good the whole race. I just tried to keep the tires on it."

Steele started alongside pole starter Dane Carter and trailed Carter for the first 15 laps, then led the final 85 miles in his Northside Propane Gaerte/Beast. He finished about six seconds ahead of Aaron Fike of Galesburg, Ill., while Carter, of Brownsburg, Ind., took third.

Brian Tyler and defending series champion Tracy Hines chased Steele in the closing laps but both fell victim to mechanical trouble. Tyler lost an engine five laps from the checkered flag and Hines had a tire go down at the same time.

Fike's finish matched his career best, while Carter's did the same. Bentley Warren and Bobby McMahan rounded out the "top-five" at the finish.

Steele's team earned $17,300 from the total purse of $87,748. He averaged 106.745 mph for the 100 miles.

Series point leader Paul White was forced out of the race with engine trouble after just 15 laps, allowing Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind., who finished seventh, to regain the series lead going into the June 29-30 race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Carter established a new qualifying record of 142.062 mph during Saturday qualifying and P.J. Jones won Saturday's 15-mile qualifying race.

<pre> 1. (2) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 100, $17,300. 2. (6) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 100, $9,100. 3. (1) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 100, $6,100. 4. (23) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 100, $4,400. 5. (20) Bobby McMahan, Rio Linda, Calif., 100, $3,600. 6. (28) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 100, $2,975. 7. (14) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $2,650. 8. (9) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 100, $2,450. 9. (26) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 100, $2,200. 10. (12) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 100, $2,050. 11. (7) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 100, $1,950. 12. (18) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 100, $1,950. 13. (22) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 100, $1,750. 14. (16) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $1,700. 15. (10) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 100, $1,650. 16. (30) Ricky Shelton, Huntington Beach, Calif., 99, $1,599. 17. (3) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 99, $1,549. 18. (15) Tyler Walker, Charlotte, N.C., 97, $1,497. 19. (17) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 97, $1,447. 20. (11) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 95, RF Tire, $1,895. 21. (8) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 95, Engine, $1,370. 22. (13) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 76, Engine, $1,326. 23. (21) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 51, Overheating, $1,276. 24. (27) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 30, Accident, $1,230. 25. (24) Robby Flock, Murrieta, Calif., 29, Engine, $1,204. 26. (4) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 23, Engine, $1,173. 27. (25) P.J. Jones, Cornelius, N.C., 19, Engine, $1,169. 28. (29) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 17, Broken Shock, $1,167. 29. (5) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 15, Engine, $1,165. 30. (19) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 6, Fuel Pump, $1,256.

Average Speed: 106.745 mph Time of Race: 56:12.53 Caution Flags: 5 for 30 laps. Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers. Lap Leaders: Carter 1-15, Steele 16-100. Fastest Qualifier: Dane Carter - 25.341 seconds - 142.062 mph. Qualifying Race Winner: (15 laps) P.J. Jones Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1-Gamester-271; 2-White-235; 3-Steele-210; 4-Carpenter-202; 5-Kahne-198; 6-Yeley-197; 7-Hines-196; 8-Dave Darland-185; 9-McCord-183; 10-Tyler-180. Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: June 29-30 - Richmond (Va.) International Raceway - "Dominick's of New York 100"

-USAC