USAC NEWS
By
The United States Auto Club.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 25, 2013
DICK JORDAN 13-15
SCHUERENBERG VAULTS TO AMSOIL POINT LEAD;
HINES TAKES 2, CLAUSON 1 IN “WINTER DIRT GAMES IV”
Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, Mo. sits atop the 2013 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series standings after the opening events of the year at Ocala, Fla. last week.
Schuerenberg finished third, fourth and fifth in the three 30-lap “Winter Dirt Games IV” features at Bubba Raceway Park and has a four-point lead over Chase Stockon going into an April 6 race at Lawrenceburg, Ind. Stockon posted the fastest qualifying time both Thursday and Saturday.
Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. earned his 44th and 45th career USAC Sprint victories at Ocala, taking Friday and Saturday night features in his Hansen’s Welding/Motor City Auto Transport DRC/Stanton Mopar. The wins brought his all-time USAC National feature total to 85 and his 45 wins in the National Sprint Cars now tie him with Larry Dickson for third all-time behind Tom Bigelow (52) and Jack Hewitt (46).
Hines led all 30 laps Saturday to beat rookie hopeful Tyler Courtney, Stockon, Robert Ballou and Schuerenberg. On Friday, Hines passed Ballou on the final lap when Ballou had a tire go down after leading the first 29 laps. Bryan Clauson finished second ahead of Schuerenberg, Stockon and Dave Darland.
Defending series champion Clauson emerged victorious Thursday after a race-long battle with Darland. Darland led 27 of the first 28 laps before Clauson went to the front on lap 29 in his Chevrolet Performance/Curb Records Beast/Kistler Chevy. Brady Bacon took third ahead of Schuerenberg and Ballou.
2013 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Point Standings: 1-Hunter Schuerenberg-182; 2-Chase Stockon-178; 3-Tracy Hines, 4-Bryan Clauson-175; 5-Brady Bacon-167; 6-Dave Darland-160; 7-Robert Ballou-142; 8-Kevin Thomas Jr.-118; 9-C.J. Leary-112; 10-Scotty Weir-110.
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6TH “COPPER ON DIRT” SHOWCASES SPRINTS & MIDGETS
FRIDAY, SATURDAY AT CANYON SPEEDWAY PARK
The AMSOIL USAC CRA Sprint Cars and USAC Western Midgets open their 2013 campaigns in this weekend’s 6th “Copper on Dirt” events at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz.
Defending USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson and five-time consecutive USAC/CRA Sprint Car king Mike Spencer, plus Western Midget Champion Shannon McQueen are all gearing up for the 1/3-mile dirt oval, which also sports West Coast Late Model and IMCA Modified competition.
Clauson is expected to compete in both events of the USAC “doubleheader” after posting an AMSOIL USAC National Sprint win at Ocala, Fla. last Thursday night. Hunter Schuerenberg, USAC’s brand-new AMSOIL National Sprint Car leader after three “top-four” finishes at Ocala, also is expected to compete at Peoria.
Clauson has now won at least one USAC National victory every year since his debut in 2005. McQueen posted more than a dozen “top-10” finishes on her way to the 2012 Western Midget crown. She also was the recipient of the prestigious “Kara Hendrick Award” from Lyn St. James’ Women in the Winners Circle last year. Spencer became the first USAC driver in history to win five consecutive series titles with his 2012 championship. He scored nine victories during the 2012 CRA campaign.
Clauson owns five USAC victories at Canyon Speedway Park, including three already this year! He also scored two USAC National wins in 2011.
Last November’s USAC Midget feature at Canyon Speedway Park went to Kyle Larson.
Canyon Speedway Park is located in North Peoria off Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles West on Carefree Highway. For more information, please contact the track at 602-258-RACE(7223) or additional information regarding Canyon Speedway Park can be found at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com
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USAC’S TRUE SPEED “TRIPLE CROWN” GUIDELINES ANNOUNCED
Due to the unique USAC National Championship structure in 2013, with separate USAC National Midget Pavement and Dirt Champions to be crowned, guidelines regarding the USAC True Speed Triple Crown Championship have been restructured and announced. The career achievement is acknowledged with a specially-crafted championship ring courtesy of True Speed Enterprises and USAC Triple Crown Champion Tony Stewart, who became the first to “sweep” the honors in a single year in 1995.
To enter the exclusive club of USAC Triple Crown Champions, a driver during his career must possess an overall championship in the three National categories, Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget.
Maintaining the integrity of the prestige of the USAC Triple Crown, which has only been achieved by five drivers in USAC‘s history, drivers in the 2013 National Midget series will earn eligibility meeting two criteria.
First, a driver must win either the dirt or pavement championship. In addition, the driver must compile the most points in total Midget competition. For the sole purpose of establishing this Triple Crown criteria, an overall National Midget Championship points tally will be maintained, utilizing total points combined on dirt and pavement.
Pancho Carter became the first driver to earn the Triple Crown designation, winning the Midget title in 1972, the Sprint in 1974 and 1976 and the Silver Crown in 1978. Tony Stewart won the 1994 Midget title and added all three championships in 1995. Dave Darland followed, winning the Silver Crown in 1997, Sprint in 1999 and Midget in 2001 and 2002. In 2001 J.J. Yeley won the Sprint title, came back in 2002 with the Silver Crown championship and then won all three in 2003. Jerry Coons Jr. joined the illustrious list with the 2006 and 2007 Midget titles and the 2008 Sprint and Silver Crown championships.
Currently active USAC drivers with two of the three Triple Crown legs to their credit include Tracy Hines (Silver Crown and Sprint), Levi Jones (Silver Crown and Sprint), Bryan Clauson (Sprint and Midget), Bobby East (Silver Crown and Midget) and Jason Leffler (Silver Crown and Midget).
