Salem: Race report

Steele Opens Salem "Sweep" With 30-Lap Midget Win

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. caught Aaron Fike three laps from the checkered flag and won Saturday night's 30-lap USAC National Midget Car feature at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway. The race kicked off the track's 45th Jasper Engines & Transmissions "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic," which closed with Steele's victory in the 50-lap Valvoline National Sprint Car feature!

Steele piloted the Nicholas Motorsports Mopar/Royal Purple Beast/Mopar to the win, beating Fike, Jay Drake, Todd Beach and Tom Hessert on the 1/2-mile paved oval. Drake was Saturday night's fastest Midget qualifier.

National Midget Series point leader Bobby East encountered mechanical woes at Salem and failed to finish the 30-lapper but retains a comfortable point lead over Josh Wise, who also failed to finish the Salem race, going into the August 27-28 event at the Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway.

Brad Kuhn led the first even laps of Saturday's race, then Fike led the next 20 before finally yielding to Steele.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Bobby East-929
2.-Josh Wise-717
3.-Tom Hessert-524
4.-Brad Kuhn-514
5.-Davey Ray-492
6.-Teddy Beach-482
7.-Dave Darland-464
8.-Ron Gregory-455
9.-Dave Steele-430
10.-Cole Carter-426

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