Leffler’s Victory Comes to Pass

Jason Leffler took the lead from Brian Tyler on lap 86 and won the USAC Coors Silver Bullet (Silver Crown) Series race before 5,552 at Irwindale Speedway Saturday night.

Leffler, of Long Beach, led the majority of the 100-lap race when Tyler passed him on lap 72. Russ Gamester’s car stalled in Turn 1 on lap 74 bringing out a caution. On the restart on lap 82, Leffler stayed high while Tyler of Parma, Mich., ran low. Leffler kept gaining on Tyler on the next few laps until he finally passed him in Turn 4 of lap 86.

Pole-sitter Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind., finished fifth but increased his points lead over Gamester to 627-568, with only one race left.

“The car was working really good especially after the caution,” Leffler said. “I really don’t think I could have caught [Tyler]. I was going to make one last run at him. Sometimes it [yellow flag] really helps you.”

Todd Ellison of West Jordan, Utah, passed Rick Williams on lap 28 to win the 30-lap USAC Western Sprint Car series race.

Bud Kaeding, who had won the previous five sprint-car races at the speedway, finished eighth. Kaeding still leads Bobby McMahan of in the points race, 942-802.

Leffler also won the 30-lap USAC Western Midget Car series.