YELEY, LEFFLER “BACK TO ROOTS” AT HICKORY

By Dick Jordan

NASCAR veterans J.J. Yeley and Jason Leffler will return to their racing roots next week when they compete in the USAC Mopar National Midget races at the Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The last USAC National Midget wins on pavement for both drivers came in 2005, Yeley winning on the Phoenix Mile and Leffler winning the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale, Calif. Yeley has since won the “4-Crown Nationals” Midget race on the dirt at Rossburg, Ohio in 2008.

Yeley will pilot the C & A Motorsports Baker Crop Insurance/Bunge North America Beast, one of three team entries. Seven of his 17 career USAC National Midget wins came on the pavement. Leffler, who is entered in the Bob East ASE Beast/Esslinger Ford, posted 13 of his 19 career USAC National Midget wins on the pavement. Both drivers competed in the series last year, Yeley finishing 10th at Phoenix and seventh at Las Vegas, Leffler posting an 11th at Indianapolis, a sixth at Phoenix and a 31st at Irwindale. Yeley’s last pavement start produced an 11th at Phoenix in 2007.

Yeley’s five USAC National Championships include his “Triple Crown” sweep in 2003 and Leffler’s four titles included three consecutive Midget titles in 1997-98-99. Each will be seeking his first Carolina USAC triumph at Hickory.

The Hickory races continue a tradition of USAC racing in the Carolinas which stretches back to 1956 when the USAC Championship Cars raced at Darlington, S.C. The Hickory oval hosted Ford Focus races between 2004 and 2006 but the March 24-25 program marks the debut of USAC National racing at the .363-mile paved oval.

The Hickory “doubleheaders” on Wednesday and Thursday nights will include the Midwest and Carolina Ford Focus competitors, who will also compete on the .363-mile paved oval. A feature event for each series will follow preliminary events each night.

Race fans can take advantage of a $5 discount by purchasing tickets on line at www.usacracing.com, by calling the USAC Headquarters at 317-247-5151 or by accessing the following link: http://www.usacracing.com/store/hickory-motor-speedway.html. Tickets are priced at $20 each night but a two-night ticket is available at the price of $35.

Fans attending the March 24-25 Hickory races will also have the opportunity to win a free “Richard Petty Driving Experience” in a 600-horsepower NASCAR-style stock car at Charlotte Motor Speedway!