By Dick Jordan
Bud Kaeding, Levi Jones, Kody Swanson and Bryan Clauson all enter this Saturday afternoon’s “Rollie Beale 150” at the Toledo (Ohio) Speedway with a mathematical chance to win the 2010 USAC Silver Crown driving championship.
Kaeding leads Jones by a single point, with Swanson 27 back and Clauson 49 in arrears. A total of 66 points are available at Toledo, where a 150-lap race is on tap, honoring the former USAC Sprint Car Champion (1973) and Chief Steward who posted 32 career wins in USAC competition.
Jones, of Olney, Ill., caught leader Dave Darland on lap 95 and led the final six laps of Saturday night’s 100-lap USAC Silver Crown “Sumar Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. Jones was followed at the checkered flag by his Tony Stewart Racing teammate Bryan Clauson, Shane Cottle, Terry Babb and Kody Swanson. Jones piloted the Bass Pro Shops/Armor All Beast/Kistler Chevy to the win, his second this season.
Darland flipped on lap 99 trying to regain the lead from Jones and officially finished ninth. Pole starter Jon Stanbrough failed to finish. Kaeding led 17 laps of the race but finished 15th.
Shane Hmiel suffered critical injuries in a single-car qualifying accident and was transported to Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital for treatment of neck and back fractures.
Saturday’s Toledo activity gets under way with practice at 12:30 pm. A USAC Regional Midget “special event” is also planned as part of the day’s racing schedule.
USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Bud Kaeding-364, 2-Levi Jones-363, 3-Kody Swanson-337, 4-Bryan Clauson-315, 5-Shane Hmiel-299, 6-A.J. Fike-288, 7-Jerry Coons Jr.-288, 8-Brian Tyler-282, 9-Bobby East-259, 10-Tracy Hines-235.