Springfield Report

SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAMESTER TAKES "BETTENHAUSEN 100;" DuQUOIN'S "100" LABOR DAY

Russ Gamester of Peru, Ind. scored his second career USAC Silver Crown Championship victory in Saturday's "Tony Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. He won the pole position in his Terre Haute First National Bank Chevy with a speed of 112.778 mph and averaged 96.128 mph for the 100-mile distance to beat Dave Darland of Kokomo, Ind. and Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio to the checkered flag. Robby Flock of Murietta, Calif. and Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. of Brownsburg, Ind. rounded out the "top-five." "I didn't want to push it too hard," said a happy Gamester after the race. "I needed to save my tires for the late stages of the race. My brother George kept me informed on the radio as to where Jack (Hewitt) and Dave (Darland) were so I was pretty confident." As to the point race, he added: "I sure wish I had the Pikes Peak and Memphis races back." The win boosted him to fifth in the new standings behind point leader Jason Leffler, who won the "qualifying race" and finished 12th in the 100-mile feature. Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. earned the Turbines, Ind. "Rookie of the Race" award for his ninth-place finish. The race was interrupted by only three caution periods. Terry Babb of Decatur, Ill. hit the wall in turn three on lap 10 and Cary Faas hit the wall in turn three on lap 66. Neither driver was injured. The Silver Crown series now gears up for its annual Labor Day showcase, the "DuQuoin Century," at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds.

Silver Crown Point Standings: 1-Jason Leffler-417; 2-Brian Tyler-393; 3-Ryan Newman-376; 4-Jimmy Sills-297; 5-Russ Gamester-286; 6-Dave Darland-282; 7-Robby Flock-269; 8-Jack Hewitt-264; 9-Dave Steele-259; 10-J.J. Yeley-232.