From Bryan Gapinski
Tulare, Calif.,Nov. 14–Defending champion Bryan Clauson increased his points lead in the battle for the 2010 National Midget Driver of the Year Championship, Saturday Night. Clauson finished third in the USAC National/Western Midget Series event at Gropetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway won by Tracy Hines. Clauson now holds a seventy-two lead over Brad Loyet, with two-time NMDOTY Champion Brad Kuhn trailing Loyet by an additional twenty-five markers.
The next event will be the at Jim Naylor’s Oceanside Ventura Raceway on Nov. 20 for the ARP/J.W. Mitchell Fall Classic, which will pay $10,000 to win. Kuhn is the defending champion of the race, while Loyet won the most recent feature at the track on Oct 16.
The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale California will then host the 70th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix on Thanksgiving Night Nov. 25. Clauson won last year’s event and overcame an 87-point defect heading into the event to claim the 2009 NMDOTY Championship.
Clauson’s car owner Corey Tucker now holds a twenty-six point lead over Loyet Motorsports in Car Owners Championship. Rookie Dalton Armstrong has locked up the Design 500 Racewear NMDOTY Rookie of the Year Title. Spike (Chassis), and Ford-Esslinger (engine) have clinched the Manufacturers Championship.
POINTS
Driver: 1. Bryan Clauson 1431; 2. Brad Loyet 1359; 3. Brad Kuhn 1334; 4. Jerry Coons Jr. 1209; 5. Steve Buckwalter 988; 6. Darren Hagen 958; 7.Tracy Hines 935; 8. Brad Sweet 876; 9. Zach Daum 807; 10. Dave Darland 769.
Car Owner: 1. Corey Tucker#39, 1385; 2. Loyet Motorsports#05, 1359, 3. RW Motorsports#17, 1290; 4. Wilke-PAK#11, 1034, 5. RFMS#3, 878.