Salem: event preview

Hines' 18-point lead on the line in Saturday'S "James/O'Connor" race at Salem Speedway.

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. holds a slim 18-point lead over J.J. Yeley going into this Saturday night's "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic" at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway. The event on the 1/2-mile paved oval showcases both the USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series and the USAC National Midget Car Series.

Two of Hines' three Sprint car victories this season have come on pavement, while only one of Yeley's six have been on the hard surface. Neither has won on pavement since May.

Hines established the 1-lap Salem track qualifying record of 118.569 mph two years ago., while Dave Steele set the 50-lap mark of 81.577 mph which will be up for grabs in Saturday night's 50-lap Sprint Car feature. Hines, Steele and Chet Fillip are the only active drivers with two USAC Sprint Car victories at the Salem oval.

Saturday night's activities, which also include a 30-lap USAC National Midget Car feature, begin with practice at 4 pm. Qualifying gets under way at 5:30 and the first preliminary race is set for 7 pm.

Hines won last year's "James/O'Connor" race but no driver has been able to repeat in this event since Greg Leffler in 1980. Former race winners returning Saturday include Hines, Eric Gordon, Dave Darland, Jay Drake, Steele and Fillip.

USAC STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tracy Hines 1,301
2. J.J. Yeley 1,283
3. Derek Davidson 972
4. Jay Drake 884
5. Dave Darland 848
6. Levi Jones 816
7. Tony Elliott 690
8. Brian Tyler 584
9. Cory Kruseman 581
10. Boston Reid 570 -usac-