By Dick Jordan
Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. will lead the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series back to K-C Raceway in Alma, Ohio for their first appearance at the 3/8-mile dirt track in 16 years Saturday. Jones has a comfortable 102-point lead over Damion Gardner in the latest standings, hoping to earn a record-tying fourth USAC National Sprint Car championship. Steve Butler remains the only four-time series king.
Dave Darland, currently seventh in the series standings, won USAC’s last race at K-C, in 1994. Drivers will aim for Kevin Thomas’ 1-lap USAC track qualifying mark of 13.880 seconds when qualifications get under way.
Dickie Gaines of Mitchell, Ind. led all 30 laps to win Saturday night’s USAC AMSOIL National Sprint race at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. under threatening skies. Gaines drove the Tate Racing DRC/Chevy to the win over Darland, Jones, Shane Hollingsworth and Daron Clayton. Damion Gardner was Saturday’s fastest qualifier.
The victory was the third for Gaines in his USAC career.
USAC AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Levi Jones-1,521, 2-Damion Gardner-1,419, 3-Bryan Clauson-1,387, 4-Jerry Coons Jr.-1,313, 5-Chris Windom-1,294, 6-Tracy Hines-1,232, 7-Henry Clarke-1,162, 8-Dave Darland-988, ,9-Shane Hmiel-865 ,10-Jon Stanbrough-742.
USAC NATIONAL SPRINT DIRT POINT STANDINGS
1-Levi Jones-1,304, 2-Damion Gardner-1,172, 3-Bryan Clauson-1,128, 4-Chris Windom-1,105, 5-Jerry Coons Jr.-1,054, 6-Tracy Hines-1,009, 7-Dave Darland-988, 8-Henry Clarke-827, 9-Jon Stanbrough-742, 10-Robert Ballou-595.