MARCH 19, 2007 - For the second time in its history, the USAC
Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering will tackle the 1.5-mile
Homestead-Miami Speedway, with a 67-lap, 100-mile race scheduled for this
Friday.
Led by defending series champion Bud Kaeding and reigning race winner and
series runner-up in points Brian Tyler, the ever-growing series expects to add
to its legacy after putting on a successful show in 2006. Four drivers took
turns at the lead, exchanging the point on six occasions, with Tyler holding off
Aaron Pierce over the last five laps.
Pierce, third in points last season and currently seventh after the series
opener at the dirt Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz., will try his luck again
with Tyler on Friday. The former native of Muncie, Ind., who now resides in
Phoenix, set the qualifying speed record at HMS of 175.012 mph.
Running in conjunction with the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, several of
those owners have also given the Silver Crown Series a glimpse for their driver
development programs.
A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Penske Racing are involved in fielding cars for the
race. Foyt is fielding cars for 2000 Silver Crown champion Tracy Hines and
Chilean Pablo Donoso, whose mentor is one of Foyt’s former IndyCar drivers,
Eliseo Salazar. Through the help of first-year team Western Speed, Penske
development driver Billy Wease is in his rookie campaign in Silver Crown Series
action.
Hemelgarn Racing, which won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy
Lazier, also joined the Silver Crown Series late last season, and will have
veteran A.J. Fike in the seat for Homestead.
Wayne Reutimann Jr. is the only Florida-based driver scheduled to compete,
and Californian Tim Barber looks to improve on his career-best third-place
finish, which came at HMS a year ago. The point standings will have an immediate
impact as point leaders Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Shane Cottle, tied with the most
points after Manzanita, are entered to run exclusively on the dirt.
Practice for the series begins early Thursday afternoon with qualifying
scheduled at 6 p.m. Competitors are scheduled to take the green flag for the
67-lapper at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 60
2 Shane Cottle 60
3 Paul White 54
4 Bud Kaeding 51
5 A.J. Fike 48
6 Tracy Hines 45
7 Aaron Pierce 42
8 Brian Tyler 39
9 Cory Kruseman 36
10 Jerry Coons Jr. 33
|