CLAUSON BEATS DARLAND BY 5 FOR AMSOIL NATIONAL TITLE

USAC National Sprint Car Series logo 2012 united states auto club

By Dick Jordan

Bryan Clauson and Mike Spencer completed 2012 USAC driving championships Saturday night as the 17th “Budwesier Oval Nationals” concluded its two-night AMSOIL Sprint Car campaign at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Clauson, of Noblesville, became the youngest USAC National Sprint Car Champion in history at age 23, winning Friday’s 30-lap Perris prelim and finishing sixth in Saturday night’s 40-lap finale. He edged Dave Darland by just five points for the crown after Darland finished third and fifth in the two Perris features.

Spencer’s AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car title makes him the first driver in USAC history to claim five consecutive championships in a single series. He won Saturday’s “Budweiser Oval Nationals” 40-lapper for his first time and finished with a whopping 375-point cushion over runner-up Nic Faas.

Clauson led all 30 laps of Friday’s race in his Curb Records/R & B Truckers Maxim/Fisher to beat Stanbrough, Darland, Hines and Faas to the checkered flag.

Spencer trailed Hines for 37 laps Saturday, then led the final three laps in his Madera Produce/Grubstake Mini-Storage Maxim/Shaver to beat Hines, Stanbrough, Damion Gardner and Darland.

Car entrant champions for 2012 crowned Saturday night were CTR/BCI/Curb-Agajanian (USAC National) and Ron Chaffin Motorsports (USAC/CRA).

FINAL 2012 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINTS

1-Bryan Clauson-2,087, 2-Dave Darland-2,082, 3-Jon Stanbrough-2,019, 4-Tracy Hines-1,891, 5-Damion Gardner-1,802, 6-Robert Ballou-1,723, 7-Chase Stockon-1,723, 8-Hunter Schuerenberg-1,671, 9-Levi Jones-1,615, 10-Chris Windom-1,559.

FINAL 2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS

1-Mike Spencer-1,407, 2-Nic Faas-1,032, 3-Brody Roa-983, 4-Rip Williams-906, 5-Austin Williams-863, 6-Ryan Bernal-837, 7-Cory Kruseman-725, 8-Cody Williams-676, 9-David Cardey-498, 10-Matt Mitchell-461.