CLERMONT, Ind. — Bobby East completely dominated the 100-lap USAC K & N Filters/Optima Batteries Silver Crown race at O’Reilly Raceway Park Thursday night, scoring a half-lap victory over Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman.
The victory capped off a tough day for the 23year old, who resides only a few miles away from the track. East’s primary Silver Crown car suffered engine problems in practice, forcing the Klatt Enterprises team to use their backup car. East was also the fastest qualifier in the accompanying USAC Mopar National Midget Championship event, but failed to start the feature.
On the start, East moved into the lead over fast-qualifier Shane Hmiel. Newman passed Hmiel for second on lap five. By lap 15, East opened up a 2.3-second advantage over Newman.
Seven laps later, East began lapping the tail of the field. East increased his lead to nearly four seconds over Newman, when the event’s second and final caution appeared when Zach Schiff and Mario Marietta tangled on lap 45.
Due to East’s blistering pace only six cars remained on the lead lap. On the restart, East continued to increase his lead each lap. East held a straightaway lead, when he began lapping traffic again on lap 70.
East, driving the Klatt Enterprises Ford Racing/The Car Lot No. 6, finished 10.91 seconds ahead of Newman.
“Our backup car was flawless,” East said. “It freed up after the caution, and I could drive it even faster the second half of the race.”
The event was the first for the traditional Silver Crown cars at the track since the Aug. 4, 2005, event that was also won by East. 
Chet Fillip and Dave Darland were the only other drivers to complete the full distance. Jerry Coons, Jr. finished fifth and increased his series point lead to 23 over Levi Jones.       
The summary:
Qualifications: 1. Shane Hmiel, RW 17, 21.197; 2. Bobby East, Klatt 6, 21.206; 3. Ryan Newman, DDK 192, 21.308; 4. Chet Fillip, Advanced Racing 177, 21.425; 5. Eric Gordon, Boca/Bowman 2, 21.444; 6. Levi Jones, Stewart 10, 21.525; 7. Tracy Hines, Stewart 22, 21.552; 8. Mike Murgoitio, Team Six-R 19, 21.553; 9. Jerry Coons, Jr., RW 27, 21.575; 10. Shane Cottle, Contos 4, 21.575; 11. Aaron Pierce, Pierce 26, 21.615; 12. Wayne Reutimann, Jr., Boca/Bowman 11, 21.620; 13. A.J. Fike, RFMS  32, 21.635; 14. Brian Tyler, Team Six-R 21, 21.679; 15. Mario Marietta, Beach 15, 21.691; 16. Zach Schiff, East 3, 21.739; 17. Dave Darland, DDK 92, 21.767; 18. Shane Hollingsworth, Nolen 20, 21.816; 19. Ryan Smith, S & S 155, 21.850; 20. Jacob Wilson, Wilson 07, 21.853; 21. Steve Arpin, Edwards/RE 35, 21.870; 22. Brad Armstrong, Armstrong 08, 22.013; 23. Cameron Dodson, Paternoster 47, 22.168; 24. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Edwards/RE 199, 22.209; 25. Michael Annett, TMC 121, 22.407; 26. Tom Capie, Capie 153, 22.562.
Feature (100 laps): East, Newman, Fillip, Darland, Coons, Pierce, Jones, Fike, Reutimann, Murgoitio, Tyler, Gordon, Wilson, Hmiel, Hines, Arpin, Stenhouse, Annett, Armstrong, Smith, Schiff, Marietta, Hollingsworth, Capie, Dodson, Cottle.