Terre Haute: Hut Hundred race summary

Hess surprises 51st "Hut 100" field!
Midget "special event" Sunday night at Kokomo.

Mike Hess of Petersburg, Ill. scored a stunning victory in Wednesday night's 51st "Hut Hundred" USAC National Midget Car race at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The victory was Hess' first in USAC competition.

Hess caught J.J. Yeley on the 66th lap and led the rest of the way in his Petersburg Dairy Queen/Callahan Motorsports/Lehmann Racing Esslinger/Buzzard to win the 100-lap race on the 1/2-mile dirt track. Dave Darland finished second ahead of Yeley, Jason Leffler and Critter Malone in the race presented by Terre Haute First National Bank, Clabber Girl and the Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Brian Gerster posted the "Road to Indy" fastest qualifying time to lead the 33-car field to the green flag but he failed to finish the 100-lapper. Steve Paden and Ted Hines captured the two 10-lap "qualifying races." The 100-lap finale featured eight lead changes between five drivers. Gerster, Ryan Scott, Darland and Yeley all took turns leading before succumbing to Hess' late-race charge.

Yeley's third-place finish left him with a 1-point lead over Darland in the new series standings going into a July 30 race at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb.

Tony Stewart, USAC's National Midget Car Champion in 1994 and 1995, is expected to return to USAC Midget competition this Sunday night in a "special event" at the Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. A 30-lap feature event is planned on the 1/4-mile dirt track.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. J.J. Yeley 555
2. Dave Darland 554
3. Aaron Fike 501
4. James Chesson 413
5. Tracy Hines 380
6. Ron Gregory 371
7. Bobby East 370
8. Steve Paden 343
9. Dave Steele 299
10. John Nervo 288

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