From Dick Jordan
Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. is the 2009 USAC Western Sprint Car Champion after finishing fourth in Thursday night’s 40-lap “Turkey Night Grand Prix” Sprint race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Calif.
JoJo Helberg of Rohnert Park, Calif. took the series runner-up honors over Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. in a tie-breaker after the two emerged with duplicate point totals. Helberg finish eighth and Hunt ninth Thursday.
Cole Whitt of Alpine, Calif. put his Red Bull/Ferguson Beast/Chevy in the lead at the drop of the green flag and proceeded to lead all the way to win Thursday night’s race at Irwindale. Whitt was trailed at the checkered flag by Kody Swanson, Scott Pierovich, Tanner Swanson and Bobby East.
The title is the second in a row for Swanson and his car owner, TK Motorsports of Kingsburg, Calif., who will be among honorees 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 WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Tanner Swanson-845, 2-JoJo Helberg-679, 3-Tony Hunt-679, 4-Kody Swanson-651, 5-Brian McClish-604, 6-Audra Sasselli-590, 7-Eric Humphries-503, 8-Shauna Hogg-496, 9-Jimmy Riddell-304, 10-Mike Murgoitio-301.