TSR USAC Weekly Rewind

Tony Stewart Racing USAC Report:

Levi Jones – No. 20 TSR/CHEVROLET/MAXIM

* Fri., April 27 – Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, Ind. (1/4-mile clay oval)
* Inclement weather caused the event to be rescheduled. The second half of the USAC Border Wars series will take place at Gas City I-69 Speedway on June 14, 2007.

* Sat., April 28 – Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (1/2-mile clay oval)
* Qualified sixth fastest in the 35 car field.
* Finished sixth in the second heat race event.
* Finished third in the semi-feature event to transfer into the feature event.
* Was credited with an 18th place finish in the 25-lap feature event; led lap five of the feature and was running near the front when he hooked a rut in turn four and flipped. The car was damaged beyond repair and Jones was finished for the night.

HE SAID IT…

LEVI JONES ON THE TEAM’S DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER THE ELDORA SPEEDWAY EVENT:

“I really hate it that the night ended this way, I feel like we could’ve been in contention for the win at the end of the race. To run up front and have the night end upside down is never a good feeling; I’m extremely disappointed for Tony Stewart Racing, as well as Chevrolet and Bass Pro Shops. We had a great starting spot for the feature, any time you can start on the pole or the front row it’s a great opportunity. I love Eldora Speedway, so to be so close to a possible win and see it go away is very frustrating. We’ll gather it back up and head to Iowa for this Saturday’s event. It’s early in the season and we’re going to have a lot more opportunity to find our way back to the winner’s circle. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get our first pavement win this weekend.”

Tracy Hines, No. 21 TSR/CHEVROLET/MAXIM

* Fri., April 27 – Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, Ind. (1/4-mile clay oval)
* Inclement weather caused the event to be rescheduled. The second half of the USAC Border Wars series will take place at Gas City I-69 Speedway on June 14, 2007.

* Sat., April 28 – Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (1/2-mile clay oval)
* Earned top qualifying honors for the night, setting the pace with a lap of 15.712 seconds over the 35 car field.
* Won the first heat race event.
* Earned a ninth place finish in the 25-lap feature event; overcame two flat tires in the feature event to earn a top-10 finish.

HE SAID IT…

TRACY HINES ON THE TEAM’S HARD-FOUGHT TOP-10 FINSIH AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY:

“For the challenges we faced tonight, to end up ninth is saying a lot for the Tony Stewart Racing team. We had a great start to the night; it was our first quick time of the year. I was also pretty happy with our heat race; the car was working as well as could be expected on a rough track. I would have liked to finish closer to the front in the feature, but the fact that we had two flat tires and were able to not only change them but get back in the race to finish in the top-10 is a huge accomplishment. We’re heading to Iowa Speedway this weekend, and I really enjoy competing at that track. We’ve worked hard on our pavement program already this year, and I think we’ll have a good chance to getting Chevrolet and Bass Pro Shops their first pavement wins of the season.”

FAST FORWARD…

* Sat., May 5 – Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
* Jones and Hines will compete in a one-day doubleheader at Iowa Speedway featuring the USAC National Sprint & Midget Car Series.
* Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile pavement tri-oval.
* Pit Gates/Registration opens at 6 a.m. CDT.
* Grandstand gates will open at 9 p.m. CDT on May 5.
* Practice for the USAC National Midget Car Series will begin at 9:45 a.m. CDT, followed by practice for the USAC National Sprint Car Series at 10 a.m. CDT.
* Qualifications for the USAC National Midget Car Series will begin at 12 p.m. CDT, with the USAC National Sprint Car Series qualification session beginning at 1 p.m. CDT.
* The USAC National Midget Car Series feature event is scheduled for 3 p.m. CDT. The USAC National Sprint Car Series feature will follow at 3:45 p.m. CDT.
* This weekend’s event is the only appearance both series will make at the facility in 2007.
* Jones earned a seventh place finish in the USAC National Sprint Car Series’ only appearance at Iowa Speedway on Sept. 17, 2006. He also finished eighth in the USAC National Midget Car Series feature event on that date.
* Jones is currently ranked fifth in the USAC National Sprint Car Series championship, only 22 points behind series leader Darren Hagen. He is also ranked sixth in the USAC National Midget Car Series standings, 12 points behind series leader Hagen.
* Hines earned an 11th place finish in the USAC National Sprint Car Series’ only appearance at Iowa Speedway on Sept. 17, 2006. He also finished third in the USAC National Midget Car Series feature event on that date.
* Hines is currently ranked second in the USAC National Sprint Car Series championship, only four points behind series leader Darren Hagen. He is also ranked 20th in the USAC National Midget Car Series standings, 57 points behind series leader Hagen.
* TSR Team Manager Jay Drake won last year’s USAC National Sprint Car Series feature event at Iowa Speedway; Dave Steele won the USAC National Midget Car Series feature.
* The official website for Iowa Speedway is www.iowaspeedway.com.

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