Eldora V recap, Salem preview

STEELE TO DEFEND "JAMES/O'CONNOR" TITLE SATURDAY
CHANEY RAKES IN $50,000 "MOPAR THUNDER" PAYOFF

Saturday night's 46th Jasper Engines & Transmissions "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic" at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway features a three-way "showdown" for the USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series point lead.

Levi Jones, Dave Darland and Jay Drake are separated by just 11 points entering the race, which Drake won in 1998 and Darland won in 1999. A 50-lap Sprint car feature is on tap and the night's program also features the USAC National Midget Car Series.

Rob Chaney of Wooster, Ohio raked in the $50,000 winner's share of Saturday night's $166,600 "Mopar Thunder" purse for his 30-lap victory at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Chaney and his K & N Filters/Sander Engineering Stevenson/Kistler passed defending race winner Kevin Huntley on lap 20 and led the rest of the way to win the 40-lapper over Huntley, Dickie Gaines, Josh Wise and new track record holder Drake.

Jones and Darland finished seventh and eighth in the nation's richest non-wing sprint car race.

Saturday's Salem activities begin with vintage car warm-ups at 4 pm, followed by USAC practice at 4:30. The first heat races start at 7:15.

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. is the defending "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic" champion, but is expected to face challenges from former race winners Michael Lewis, Tracy Hines, Eric Gordon, Darland, Drake and Chet Fillip.

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Levi Jones-931
2.-Dave Darland-926
3.-Jay Drake-920
4.-Josh Wise-823
5.-Bud Kaeding-773
6.-Mat Neely-706
7.-Jon Stanbrough-571
8.-Darren Hagen-471
9.-Justin Marvel-448
10.-Tracy Hines-439

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