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

I remember Yeley winning this bonus back in 2003.
http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?Tr...StoryID=118324

http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?Tr...&StoryID=88917

0, Lundgreen
2, Vance
3, Vance
3 fike
03, THT
4, Contos
5, Westcon
5, Baldwin
6 Klatt
7, Carter
07, JR
08, JR
09, Butze
9, East/Stewart
10, Cook
10, Stewart
11, Stewart/Snider
14. McQuinn
14, Daugherty/Noffsinger
15, Beach
16, Woodring
16, Lightfoot
17, RW
18, ITI
18, Conroy
19, Team Six-R
19, Gratton
20, Nolen
21, Team Six-R
22, Stewart
22, P & P
23, Logan
23 Team Six-R
25, BWB
26, Pierce
27, RW
27, Wallace
28, Nierson/Nadeau
29, BK
29, S & S
31 mataka
32 kazman
32, RFMS
33 drinan
35, RE
36, Miller
37, Indiana Underground
38, Shoestring
39, RFMS
40, MB
43, Nix
44, Ebberts/Schlachter
48, Irvin
49, Smith
50 aviator car
51, Gamester
52, BWB
53 fox bros
55, Bateman
56, Foxco
57, Dolner
63 Hampshire
66 Gary Hieber
67, Zarounian
69, Dynamics
69 Hoffman
71, Guardian
72, B & S
77, Urish
77, Advanced Racing
81, Draw
82, Riverside
83, Stroehle
85, Team Six-R
90, Bank
92, Hoerner
97, SC
98, Western Racing
98 santos
99 seals it
99, Mucci/Matczak
110, Apple
111, Snider
115, RE
153, Capie
199, Edwards/RE
371, Indiana Underground

the way usac has screwed with these cars over the past years, i wouldn't run one.you never know when they(usac) will want change something.

I would, at the drop of a hat. And will, if I can ever afford to.

steiny

Great that Tony ponied the extra money! Now if USAC would wave the $800 license fee since it is the end of the season, and drop the $100 entry fee they might increase the count!

I totally agree. They need to waive the licensing fees or the extra money will do no good. And they need to announce that soon. Next year they should pro-rate the license per race.

I encourage any team who is still on the fence to pick up the phone and contact USAC and talk to them. Maybe they will waive the license fee maybe they won't, just contact them and discuss it.

if there's a $900.00 in fees just to compete, then point the $$$ at the midgets, the # of s c cars won't change at this point

USAC is hurting in all 3 divisions. I think the biggest reason is the total lack of TV coverage. Back in the day, there wasn't a million channels and USAC had the best short track TV deal in the country. A lot of drivers/owners wanted to be in USAC because of that. They need a Forrest Lucas type to put them back on the air!