Steele Wins Copper World Classic
Phoenix, AZ - Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. returned to USAC’s Midget Series Thursday night at Phoenix International Raceway and ended a five-month hiatus with a victory in the 32nd “Copper World Classic” 25-mile feature. Steele passed Billy Wease on a restart on lap 20 and led the final six laps in his Toyota Oakley/Performance Racing Industry Beast/Pink Toyota. Bobby Santos III finished second ahead of Kody Swanson, Bobby East and Wease. Josh Wise won the pole but finished seventh. Jerry Coons Jr. and Johnny Rodriguez emerged from the event as the series point leaders in the National and Western Midget series respectively, targeting the Nov. 22 finale at Irwindale, Calif. to lock up their 2007 driving titles.
A 13th place finish was the best that Tony Stewart Racing could achieve, but the highlight for the team was the return of Tracy Hines to competition.
- Levi Jones Qualified 23rd and finished 32nd
- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr Qualified 31st and finished 13th
- Tracy Hines began his comeback by qualifying 29th and finishing 35th.
NEW NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS: 1-Coons-1,212; 2-Hagen-1,129; 3-Stenhouse-1,070; 4-Kuhn-1,003; 5-Darland-992; 6-Kevin Swindell-902; 7-Jones-862; 8-Brady Bacon-756; 9-Loyet-680; 10-Danny Stratton-633.
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November 10th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I really need to come by here more often. I didn’t even realize that Dave Steele was racing Toyotas. I know–it’s been two years since he’s raced with TSR, hasn’t it? I haven’t been in a coma, just asleep.