[Vukie]

Copper World 2002.
After the new car came on board, car counts went down. They never recovered.

USAC WELD RACING SILVER CROWN SERIES RACE RESULTS: March 21-23, 2002 -
Phoenix, Arizona - Phoenix International Raceway - Copper World Indy 200"

QUALIFICATIONS: (Held March 22) 1. Dave Steele, 19, Gratton-25.963; 2. J.J. Yeley, 9, East/Stewart-25.976; 3. Tracy Hines, 37, Indiana Underground-26.186; 4. Jay Drake, 11, Stewart/Snider-26.211; 5. Brian Tyler, 21, Team Six-R-26.230; 6. Paul White, 10, Cook-26.285; 7. P.J. Jones, 111, Snider-26.320; 8. Dave Darland, 92, Hoerner-26.328; 9. David Gough, 82, Riverside-26.336; 10. Bobby East, 3, Vance-26.350; 11. Ron Gregory, 48, Irvin-26.351; 12. John Starks, 98, Western Racing-26.372; 13. Ed Carpenter, 39, RFMS-26.432; 14. Brad Noffsinger, 14, Daugherty/Noffsinger-26.462; 15. Bud Kaeding, 2, Vance-26.511; 16. A.J. Fike, 67, Zarounian-26.586; 17. Donny Schatz, 115, RE-26.591; 18. Michael Lewis, 85, Team Six-R-26.592; 19. Jason McCord, 4, Contos-26.609; 20. Chet Fillip, 77, Advanced Racing-26.627; 21. Bentley Warren, 29, S & S-26.665; 22. Danny Ebberts, 44, Ebberts/Schlachter-26.687; 23. Jimmy Kite, 5, Westcon-26.707; 24. Russ Gamester, 51, Gamester-26.735; 25. Tyler Walker, 35, RE/Curb/Agajanian-26.740; 26. Matt Westfall, 25, BWB-26.758; 27. Eric Butze, 09, Butze-26.765; 28. Tyce Carlson, 52, BWB-26.839; 29. Rich Tobias, Jr., 17, RW-26.854; 30. Brad Armstrong, 110, Apple-26.862; 31. Dane Carter, 7, Carter-26.886; 32. Levi Jones, 18, ITI-27.123; 33. John Heydenreich, 90, Bank-27.170; 34. Aaron Pierce, 26, Pierce-27.269; 35. Jason Fuller, 49, Smith-27.269; 36. Erin Crocker, 16, Woodring-27.333; 37. Jonathan Vennard, 99, Mucci/Matczak-27.488; 38. Teddy Beach, 15, Beach-27.539; 39. Nick Lundgreen, 0, Lundgreen-27.819; 40. Tony Elliott, 20, Nolen-27.833; 41. Murray Erickson, 71, Guardian-27.854; 42. Dan Drinan, 07, JR-27.858; 43. Mike Ford, 57, Dolner-28.604; 44. Roger Rager, 03, THT-28.950; 45. Dan Drinan, 08, JR-NT; 46. Ed Carpenter, 69, Dynamics-NT; 47. David Bridges, 40, MB-NT; 48. Tony Hunt, 28, Nierson/Nadeau-NT; 49. Lance Kobusch, 23, Logan-NT; 50. Brian Paulus, 22, P & P-NT; 51. Jason Engel, 27, Wallace-NT; 52. Ryan Scott, 72, B & S-NT; 53. #371, Indiana Underground-NT. (NOTE: Damion Gardner also in car #07).

CONSOLATION RACE: (15 laps-Held March 22) 1. Walker, 2. Butze, 3. Carter, 4. Pierce,5. Westfall, 6. Tobias, 7. Heydenreich, 8. Carlson, 9. Rager, 10. Erickson, 11. Crocker, 12. L.Jones, 13. Beach, 14. Fuller, 15. Vennard, 16. Lundgreen, 17. Armstrong, 18. Ford. NT


By Dick Jordan: Phoenix, Ariz. - Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. successfully defended his "Copper World Classic" championship Sunday at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, winning the 100-mile USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Championship race.

Steele led 85 of the 100 laps in his Northside Propane Gaerte/Beast to beat Tracy Hines and Dave Darland to the checkered flag in a race slowed by four caution periods.

Steele won the pole on Saturday at 138.658 mph and emerged as the series point leader going into a May 10 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

"We had a great car," said Steele in victory lane. "I had to run hard and I could see Tracy's nose at times, so I knew they were right there. The car started to get a bit loose near the end so I drove defensively and guarded the bottom of the track. It worked."

Rounding out the "top-10" at the finish were Yeley (4th), Chet Fillip, Jay Drake, Bentley Warren, Paul White, Brian Tyler and Michael Lewis.

Tyler Walker won Saturday's 15-mile consolation race and Fillip earned the race's University of Northwestern Ohio "Hard Charger Award" for advancing 15 positions.

1. (1) Dave Steele, Tampa, Fla., 100, $25,025, No time or speed.
2. (3) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 100, $11,602.
3. (8) Dave Darland, Lincoln, Ind., 100, $7,365.
4. (2) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 100, $7,340.
5. (20) Chet Fillip, Avon, Ind., 100, $4,194.
6. (4) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 100, $4,510.
7. (21) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 100, $3,094.
8. (6) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 100, $3,736.
9. (5) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 100, $2,776.
10. (18) Michael Lewis, Noblesville, Ind., 100, $2,802.
11. (24) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 100, $1,950.
12. (11) Ron Gregory, Noblesville, Ind., 100, $2,509.
13. (22) Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif., 100, $1,750.
14. (23) Jimmy Kite, Stockbridge, Ga., 100, $1,700. 15. (16) A.J. Fike, Galesburg, Ill., 99, $1,649.
16. (25) Tyler Walker, Los Angeles, Calif., 99, $1,674.
17. (14) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 99, $1,914.
18. (17) Donny Schatz, Minot, N.D., 98, $1,498
19. (13) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 93, Flat Tire, $2,717.
20. (29) Matt Westfall, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, 93, $1,618.
21. (19) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 85, Electrical, $1,554.
22. (7) P.J. Jones, Cornelius, N.C., 81, Engine, $1,535.
23. (31) Tyce Carlson, Indianapolis, Ind., 64, Flat Tire, $114.
24. (27) Dane Carter, Brownsburg, Ind., 57, Power Steering, $1,382.
25. (28) Aaron Pierce, Muncie, Ind., 42, Valve Spring, $1,317.
26. (15) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 24, Accident, $1,224.
27. (30) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Pa., 15, Accident, $1,290.
28. (26) Eric Butze, Memphis, Tenn., 14, Accident, $1,289.
29. (9) David Gough, Machesney Park, Ill., 14, Clutch, $1,320.
30. (12) John Starks, Edgewood, Wash., 6, Fuel Leak, $1,306.
31. (10) Bobby East, Indianapolis, Ind., 3, Accident, $1,232.

Average Speed: None-Yellow Flags
Time of Race: None-Yellow Flags.
Caution Flags: 4 for 33 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Yeley 1-2, Steele 3-20, Yeley 21-33, Steele 34-100.

Fastest Qualifier: Dave Steele - 25.963 seconds - 138.658 mph.

Consolation Race Winner: (15 laps) .Tyler Walker