Sills Wins Delmar

>Board: AUTO RACING BB >Topic: SPRINTS & MIDGETS >Subject: SILLS WINS DELMAR

To: ALL From: LEN ASHBURN (GHDK38B@Prodigy.Com)

Time: 10/21 9:20 AM

KENNY IRWIN LOSES RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP ON LAST LAP @ DELMAR Delmar, CA, October 20, 1996 - Kenny Irwin, Jr. of Indianapolis had the 1996 USAC Silver Crown Championship in the palm of his hand at the first USAC dirt car race on the Delmar mile since Rex Mays was killed in 1949, but it wasn't to be. The talented USAC open wheel and stock car oval specialist was in the points lead in the

penultimate lap when he blew a tire entering turn one of the last lap, made contact with another car, and ended up against the outside retaining wall. Jimmy Sills of Placerville, CA was the winner and claimed his third dirt car championship, 1990, 1994, and now 1996. Irwin fell to 11th in the race and lost the crown to Sills by 42 points.

RESULTS: USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPI0NSHIP, Delmar, CA, Mile, Winning time 1:07:59, 88.257 MPH, Driver & Laps Completed: 1. Jimmy Sills (100), 2. Robby Flock (100), 3. Dave Darland, (100), 4. Brent Kaeding (100), 5. Chuck Gurney (100), 6. Billy Boat (100), 7. Ryan Newman (100), 8. Cary Faas (100), 9. Tracy Hines (100), 10. Wally Pankratz (100), 11. Kenny Irwin, Jr. (99), 12. Lee Brewer, Jr. (99), 13. Steve Kent (99), 14. Bill Rose (99), 15. Tony Elliott (98), 16. Jack Hewitt (98), 17. Ronnie Burke (98), 18. Brian Tyler (96), 19. Jim Keeker (96), 20. Ronnie Day (76), 21. Donnie Beechler (76 laps-water line), 22. Greg Peterson (48 laps - accident, 23. Dan Drinan (31 laps-engine failure), 24. George Snider (26 laps - handling). FINAL USAC SILVER CROWN POINTS - 1. Sills - 1,113, 2. Irwin - 1,071, 3. Gurney - 1,000, 4. Darland - 940, 5. Flock - 583, 6. Mike Bliss - 544, 7. Hewitt - 486, 8. Tony Stewart - 444, 9. Kevin Thomas - 439, 10. Donnie Beechler - 451. Len in Indy