Tri-City wrap-up, Berlin preview

Yeley continues hot streak at Granite City. National Midget Car Series returns to Berlin Raceway Saturday.

J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. scored his 11th USAC National feature victory Saturday night at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., winning the 30-lap "Bob Wente Classic" Midget Car race on the 1/2-mile dirt oval. It was his fourth win in the National Midget Car Series this year.

Yeley needs four more USAC National Wins to join six previous drivers who claimed 15 or more USAC National wins in a single season. They are A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Tom Bigelow, Rich Vogler, Mel Kenyon and Jay Drake. Foyt set the record of 19 National wins in 1961.

Yeley trails Dave Darland by 114 points going into this Saturday night's Midget Car race at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich. The race marks USAC's first Midget Car appearance at the 7/16-mile paved oval since 1968 when Sam Sessions was the winner.

A 30-lap feature concludes Saturday's events, which start with practice at 1 pm. Qualifying is set for 5:30, with racing at 7.

Yeley caught Tracy Hines on the 14th lap of the Granite City race and led the rest of the way to win in his Ford/ASE/Performance Racing Industry Pink Ford/Beast. Hines finished second ahead of Darland, Aaron Fike and Brian Gerster.

Sarah McCune was the fastest qualifier at Granite City, the third time a lady has done that at a USAC National event. McCune was the first, at Anderson, Ind. in 1999, followed by Sarah Fisher in a Midget Car event at Winchester, Ind. later that year.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Dave Darland 862
2. J.J. Yeley 748
3. Aaron Fike 738
4. Tracy Hines 608
5. Bobby East 561
6. Steve Paden 511
7. A.J. Fike 494
8. Ron Gregory 463
9. James Chesson 414
10. Dave Steele 366

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