Special Copper World Section on Northwestracer.com
Copper World photos seen here taken by Matt Supan of Speedmedianews.com
3:45pm Saturday March 17th USAC Midget Main Event -Michael Lewis Wins his 1st Copper World win over AJ Fike taking 2nd and JJ Yeley 3rd, 4th was Aaron Fike, 5th Jay Drake, 6th Mike Bliss, 7. Aaron Pollock, 8. Tony Ave, 9. Bobby Boone, 10. Davey Hamilton
Phoenix, Ariz. - Results Sunday afternoon (March 18) from the running of the 24th Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Phoenix International Raceway, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:
Paul White of Temple, Texas scored his first USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series victory in Sunday's 100-mile Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 feature event at the Phoeniz (Ariz.) International Raceway. It came in his 28th series start.
White took the lead from pole starter Dave Steele on the 16th lap and led the rest of the way, then survived a brush with series champion Tracy Hines on lap which sent Hines into the inside wall on the frontstretch on lap 94.
"I hate that I turned him around like that but I don's feel like I did anything wrong," said White after the race. "In fact, I didn't even know he was there." Hines was battling for the lead when the incident occurred.
Sunday's race produced a series record purse of $108,940, of which White claimed $22,701.
Steele, who won the pole with a qualifying speed of 140.225 mph on Saturday, finished second and was followed by Dane Carter, Jerry Coons, Jr. and Jason McCord. White's victory left him as the new series point leader going into next Saturday night's K & N Filters Classic at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
A total of seven yellow flags flew during Sunday's race and Brad Noffsinger suffered a wrist injury in a three-car crash on the 17th lap.
Tyler Walker won Saturday's 10-mile "qualifying race."
1. (4) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 100, $22,701, 90.818 mph
2. (1) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 100, $12,308
3. (16) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 100, $6,560
4. (7) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 100, $5,587
5. (8) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 100, $4,437
6. (11) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 100, $4,230
7. (18) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 100, $3,151
8. (10) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $2,803
9. (13) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 100, $3,239
10. (2) Davey Hamilton, Las Vegas, Nev., 100, $3,250
11. (3) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 100, $2,781
12. (6) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 99, $2,015
13. (20) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 98, $1,764
14. (5) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 93, Accident, $3,780
15. (24) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 91, $1,641
16. (23) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 90, $1,590
17. (25) Tyler Walker, Charlotte, N.C., 77, Engine, $1,582
18. (12) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 75, Engine, $2,574
19. (29) Carl Edwards, Columbia, Mo., 71, Overheating, $1,496
20. (28) Bentley Warren, South Daytona, Fla., 53, Clutch, $1,428
21. (9) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 49, Engine, $1,509
22. (30) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 45, Overheating, $1,395
23. (19) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 19, Clutch, $1,269
24. (14) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 16, Accident, $1,266
25. (22) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 16, Accident, $1,216
26. (27) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 16, Engine, $1,291
27. (26) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 9, Accident, $1,284
28. (21) Jim Childers, Gibsonton, Fla., 9, Accident, $1,209
29. (15) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 7, Engine, $1,207
30. (17) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 2, Engine, $1,202.
Average Speed: 90.818 mph
Time of Race: 1:06:03.993,
Caution Flags: 7 for 40 laps
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Steele 1-15, White, 16-100.
Fastest Qualifier: Dave Steele - 25.673 seconds - 140.225 mph.
Consolation Race Winner: (10 laps) Tyler Walker.
Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1-White-63, 2-Steele-60, 3-Carter-54, 4-Coons-51, 5-McCord-48, 6-Darland-45, 7-Elliott-42, 8-Gamester-39, 9-Carpenter-36, 10-Hamilton-33.
Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: March 24 - Irwindale (CA) Speedway
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-15 Steele, Laps 16-100 White.
NEW COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET STANDINGS: 1-White-63; 2-Steele-60; 3-Carter-54, 4-Coons-51, 5-McCord-48; 6-Darland-45, 7-Elliott-42; 8-Gamester-39; 9-Carpenter-36; 10-Hamilton-33.
NEXT COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET RACE: March 24 - Irwindale (CA) Speedway
1. Tyler Walker, 2. Derrick Davidson, 3. Jay Drake, 4. Bently Warren, 5. Edwards, 6. Chet Fillip, 7. Jack Hewitt, 8. Whittaker, 9. Wally Pankratz, 10. Kane, 11. Armstrong, 12. Daugherty, 13. Cory Kruseman, 14. Kierce, 15. Capie, 16. McMahan, 17. Burke, 18. Drew Church, 19. Tobias, 20. Eric Gordon, 21. Rick Brown Springfield Oregon, 22. Bank, 23. Tony Ave, 24. Surniak, 25. Evans, 26. Hansen, 27. Jimmy McCune, 28. Wayne Chinn. NT
1. (19) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 140.225 mph.
2. (04) Davey Hamilton, Las Vegas, Nev., 139.513.
3. (67) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 139.146.
4. (10) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 138.921.
5. (37) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 138.797.
6. (85) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 138.616.
7. (35) Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 138.429.
8. (4) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 138.403.
9. (69) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 138.190.
10. (51) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 138.174.
11. (56) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 138.036.
12. (111) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 137.952
13. (11) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 137.857.
14. (40) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 137.683.
15. (44) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 137.137.
16. (27) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 137.038.
17. (192) Aaron Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 136.923.
18. (20) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 136.877.
19. (110) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 136.871.
20. (66) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 136.632.
21. (78) Jim Childers, Gibsonton, Fla., 136.467.
22. (73) Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., 135.675.
23. (93) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 135.526.
24. (22) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 135.297.
25. (2) Tyler Walker, Charlotte, N.C., 1st-in Qualifying race.
26. (25) Derek Davidson, Lafayette, Ind., 2nd in-Qualifying race.
27. (62) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 3rd in-Qualifying race.
28.(29) Bentley Warren, South Daytona, Fla., 4th in-Qualifying race.
29. (80) Carl Edwards, Columbia, Mo., 5th in-Qualifying race.
30. (77) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 6th in-Qualifying race.
Lewis took the lead from defending WorldCom National Midget Car Champion Kasey Kahne on the 20th lap of the 25-lap "Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200" Midget Car feature and led the rest of the way to claim the $10,000 winner's check. "I don't know what to say," he said in victory lane. "It's awesome. It hasn't sunk in yet." Lewis piloted a car co-sponsored by A.J. Foyt Racing and Electronic Chrome & Grinding.
Kahne and teammate Dave Darland, the second and third-place finishers at the checkered flag, were notified after post-race technical inspection that their cars, which nearly ran out of fuel, were disqualified for failing to meet the minimum weight requirement. That left A.J. Fike of Galesburg, Ill. in the runner-up spot, followed by J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Aaron Fike of Galesburg and Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif.
Lewis' victory establishes him as the early leader in the WorldCom National Midget Car Series standings going into the April 1 "Glen Niebel Classic" at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. Matt Streeter, who finished 16th in Saturday's race, emerged as the leader in the WorldCom Western Midget Car Series, heading into an April 1 race at the Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif.
Dane Carter won the pole starting spot for Saturday's race during Friday qualifying with a speed of 134.937 mph. He officially led the first five laps of Saturday's race but failed to finish the 25-mile feature due to mechanical problems. Aaron Pollock won Friday's 10-mile "qualifying race."
NEW WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS: 1-Lewis-61; 2-Yeley-58; 3-A.J. Fike-57; 4-Aaron Fike-51; 5-Drake-48; 6-Bliss-45; 7-Pollock-42; 8-Ave-39; 9-Nervo-31; 10-Robertson-29.
NEW WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS: 1-Streeter-79; 2-Harris-66; 3-Ebberts-65; 4-Lewis-61; 5-Meseraull-59; 6-Yeley-58; 7-A.J. Fike-57; 8-Pankratz-52; 9-Aaron Fike-51; 10-Drake-48.
After the races couple comments from Kasey Kahne "Main event pretty exciting the last 5 laps or so pretty close racing alot of fun"
Dave Darland - "our car was really best in the long straightaways - got by Michael a little bit later..... Bliss came up on me too - we were running out of fuel."
Want to thank the team - ran a little too short on fuel joined by Michael Lewis "Its tough with all those 9 cars.... victory means it's awesome.... just hasn't really sunk in yet..."
The start of the Supermodified Main Event
"It's nerve racking to pull the early pill," said Steele, who was the first driver to qualify. "But I think the track was in our favor. It was a little cooler. Tomorrow we'll be concerned with tires and fuel, since we're running 100 miles this year instead of 50."
Indy Racing League veteran Davey Hamilton shares the front row for Sunday's 100-mile race, averaging 139.513 mph. Kasey Kahne, the 2000 USAC National Midget Car Champion and last year's Silver Bullet "Rookie of the Year," will start third.
Hamilton, driving the #1 Victory Circle Motorsports/MPH Enterprises/Maggini Hay Co./Hoosier Tire Shefchik/Losorwith, traveled the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway in 23.536 seconds to beat out defending Copper World Classic champ Troy Regier, who posted the second quickest time at 23.893 seconds.
Dave McKnight, Jr. was third with a time of 24.566, Ricky Otts was fifth quick with 24.612 and Scott Schmidt rounded out the top-five qualifiers at 24.879. Joe Gosek experienced engine woes and withdrew from the event without posting a qualifying time, and both Mike Ordway and Randy Ritckes also did not qualify.
"The car was really good, and it has been good all weekend. We’re trying a different (mechanical) combination this weekend, which obviously worked," Hamilton stated after besting the rest of the field.
Hamilton is attempting something no one else is doing by running in all four divisions of the Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 this weekend the SRL Supermodifieds, the Indy Racing Northern Light Series, and both the USAC Midget and Silver Bullet divisions.
"Fortunately, three of the four teams I’m running with I’ve worked with in the past. I know the style and I know what the cars are doing before I get in them," explained Hamilton "All are really close (to a good setup). By the time I get to the backstraight (at PIR) I’ve already gotten used to being in a different car."
The 25-mile Supermodified Racing League Feature race is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Saturday, March 17th
Sixty cars are already listed among preliminary entries and the all-time series record for attendees stands at 61, which occurred at Phoenix in 1996.
Sunday's 100-mile Silver Bullet race climaxes a four-day timetable of USAC activity in conjunction with the Indy Racing Northern Light Series 200-mile race, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the desert mile. USAC's WorldCom National and Western Midget Cars and the Supermodified Racing League are also on the card for what promises to be a unique weekend of racing.
USAC's three defending National Champions - Tracy Hines, Tony Elliott and Kasey Kahne - are all slated to compete in the Silver Bullet opener. Hines, of New Castle, Ind., won last year's Silver Bullet championship, while, Elliott, of Kokomo, Ind., was the 2000 USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Champion. Kahne, of Enumclaw, Wash., dominated last year's WorldCom National Midget Car Series.
Drivers will challenge Jason Leffler's 1-lap track qualifying mark of 140.806 mph during Saturday time trials. Brad Noffsinger of Concord, N.C. will be out to surpass his all-time series qualifying mark of 143.093 mph set last year at Madison, Ill. Silver Bullet practice is slated Friday and Sunday's 100-mile race gets the green flag at 11 am, prior to the 2 pm Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 IRL feature.
Drivers to watch in the Silver Bullet event include Tyler Walker of Charlotte, N.C., who will make his first series start for the Johnny Vance Racing Team, plus West coast hotshoes Cory Kruseman, Bobby McMahan, Jerry Coons, Jr., Bud Kaeding, Ricky Shelton, Wally Pankratz, Ronnie Day, Davey Hamilton and Jay Drake.
Hamilton is the only driver expected to compete in all four divisions of this year's Pennzoil Copper World Indy 2000, while Drake will try to resume the incredible winning streak of 2000 which saw him tie A.J. Foyt and Sleepy Tripp's all-time USAC single-season victory record of 19.
The 60 preliminary Coors Light Silver Bullet entries represent drivers from 17 states and cars with 15 different chassis makes.
| Event | Series | Broadcast Date | Broadcast Time | |
| Copper World March 17 Phoenix, Ariz. |
USAC National Midget | T | ESPN2 March 24 (Sat.) |
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
| March 17 Phoenix, Ariz | USAC Western Midget | T | ESPN2 March 24 (Sat.) | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
| March 18 Phoenix, Ariz | USAC Silver Bullet Series | T | ESPN2 March 24 (Sat.) | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
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Visitors to this Special Copper World Classic Section Coverage page since Thursday March 15th 2001