COONS SPECTACULAR IN “ROLLIE BEALE 100” VICTORY


Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. bolted into contention for the 2012 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown championship Friday night, scoring a sensational victory in the Hemelgarn Super Fitness “Rollie Beale 100” at the Toledo (Ohio) Speedway.


Overtaking leaders Bobby East and Bobby Santos with just 14 laps remaining, Coons sped to victory in his Rotondo Weirich/Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Beast/Wallace Toyota, leading the final 14 laps around the half-mile paved oval. Fast qualifier East finished second, followed by Santos, Kody Swanson and Tracy Hines.


Swanson emerged with a 17-point lead in the series standings which he will take into a 100-lapper at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. July 26.


Coons’ late-race charge to the front ended a spectacular three-car battle for the lead at Toledo which had lasted most of the race with Coons holding down the number three spot for most of the distance. The win was Coons’ second in Silver Crown competition at Toledo, having previously won the “Rollie Beale 150” in 2010.


Female Michigan driver Taylor Ferns, in only her second series start, qualified seventh in the 15-car field.