By Steven Blakesley
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (April 21, 2010) – The USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series debuted its 2010 season with Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. taking the 50 lap feature win at the one-third mile All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. The win marked the five-time USAC champion’s 27th career USAC feature win.
Roseville was the sight of Hunt’s lone win during 2009.
“To win at my home track in Roseville is always great,” Hunt said. “But to begin the season with a victory means a lot as we head into the busy summer schedule.”
Alamo, Calif.’s Scott Pierovich led the opening 33 laps of the 50 lap feature for the primarily 360 cubic inch sprint cars. The former USAC Western Midget champion, aboard the Ken Pierson #14, battled hard with 17 year-old rookie Luis Ramos of Clovis, Calif. driving the Kaplan-Genoso #21 car.
Pierovich and Ramos staged a thrilling battle for the lead, while Hunt and 2009 series champion Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. made their way through the field.
Swanson set the fast time in qualifications with a 12.876 lap and Hunt qualified second fast. They both started on row three after a six car invert.
On lap 33, Hunt whom had fallen back to sixth in the early stages mounted a charge into third. Ramos dove to the inside of Pierovich entering turn one and they made contact while trying to make it three-wide underneath a lapped car. Ramos and Pierovich spun to a stop in the infield to bring out the caution. Both drivers were able to continue on but had to restart at the rear of the field.
When the green flag came back out, Hunt took off from the line in his Schwanke spec-engined, Metal Works/Redline Oil sponsored mount over the TK Motorsports #17 of Swanson.
2009 series runner-up JoJo Helberg of Ronhert Park, Calif. raced hard with Fresno’s Audra Sasselli for the third position while the Backpack Charlie #5 of Shauna Hogg fought off advances from Pierovich and Ramos.
Hunt clicked off a 12.597 on lap 43 and extended his lead to nearly four seconds before he took the checkered flag. Swanson came home second followed by Helberg, Sasselli, and Hogg the top-five.
Heat race wins on the night went to Sasselli in heat race one and Hunt in heat race two.
The next stop on the 2010 USAC Westen Sprint Car Series campaign will be this Saturday, April 24, at Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, Calif. Rick Faeth’s 3/8ths mile asphalt oval just outside Redding is a jewel of the North State and one of the fastest tracks on the schedule.
The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.com USAC Western Sprint Car Series can be followed on Facebook as well.