Terre Haute preview

Yeley leads drivers to "Sumar Classic"; two-time winner Beechler returns to series.

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis 500 veterans J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. and Donnie Beechler of Springfield, Ill. headline Saturday's "SUMAR Classic" lineup at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, the fourth event on the Weld Racing Silver Crown Series schedule.

Yeley, the winner of the last two races on the circuit and four of the last five events on dirt, leads Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. by 24 points. Yeley finished second in the "SUMAR Classic" last season.

Beechler has three wins at Terre Haute, which includes wins in the "SUMAR Classic" in 1995 and 1997 and the "Hut Hundred" in 1998. Beechler last competed in the series June 2, 2001, when he finished 20th in the NAPA "Hawkeye Hundred" at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.

"It's going to feel nice getting back into the dirt cars," Beechler said. "It's been about a year and a half since I've been in the cars, so it's time to go have some fun."

"Terre Haute is one of my favorite tracks, and it's going to be good in the series."

Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind. won the 100-lap event last year, which was slowed by seven caution periods and a red flag. Elliott also won the classic in 1998.

Practice is scheduled to get underway at 5:30 p.m., while qualifying is set to start at 6:30 p.m. Racing is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

<pre> USAC WELD RACING SILVER CROWN SERIES STANDINGS 1. J.J. Yeley 177 6. Paul White 114 2. Tracy Hines 153 7. Jay Drake 109 3. Brian Tyler 135 8. Chet Fillip 93 4. Dave Steele 133 9. A.J. Fike 88 5. Dave Darland 122 10. Russ Gamester 71

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