From Dick Jordan
AS CLAUSON TAKES 69TH “TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX”
Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind. and Garrett Hansen of Manhattan Beach, Calif. emerged with USAC Midget driving championships Thursday night following the 69th Lucas Oil “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.), won by Bryan Clauson.
Kuhn is the 2009 USAC Mopar National Midget Champion and Hansen in the 2009 USAC Western Midget Champion. Kuhn was unable to finish Thursday’s race after being involved in a lap 12 altercation but finished eight points ahead of Brad Sweet in the final standings. Hansen finished sixth in Thursday’s race to wrap up his title drive.
Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., capped a great 2009 USAC season with a victory in Thursday night’s 98-lap race at Irwindale. Clauson caught early leader Josh Wise on lap 42 and led the rest of the way in his F & F Mechanical/Esslinger Beast/Esslinger Ford. Teammate Levi Roberts finished second to garner the Don Basile “Rookie of the Race” award. Pole winner Wise led the first 41 laps and finished third, ahead of Jerome Rodela and Tanner Swanson.
RW Motorsports of Lederach, Pa. (National) and Jerome Rodela of El Monte, Calif. (Western) claimed Midget car owner championships for 2010.
Kuhn, Hansen, RW Motorsports and Rodela are among USAC champions who will be honored at USAC’s annual “Night of Champions” National Awards Banquet January 8 in Indianapolis, Ind. Tickets for the banquet may be ordered by calling USAC at 317-247-5151 or by e-mailing heidi@usacracing.com.
FINAL USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Brad Kuhn-1,239, 2–Brad Sweet-1,231, 3-Darren Hagen-1,186, 4-Jerry Coons Jr.-1,103, 5-Bobby East-1,023, 6-Cole Whitt-1,022, 7-Tracy Hines-958, 8-Bryan Clauson-900, 9-Chad Boat-765, 10-Zach Daum-544.
FINAL USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Garrett Hansen-1,123, 2-Jerome Rodela-1,000, 3-Alex Schutte-973, 4-Tanner Swanson-767, 5-David Prickett-699, 6-Scott Pierovich-640, 7-Shannon McQueen-583, 8-Josh Ford-501, 9-Alex Bowman-501; 10-Levi Roberts-424.