By Dick Jordan
Thursday’s AMSOIL USAC Western Sprint Car race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Calif., part of this year’s 70th “Turkey Night Grand Prix” events, will witness a battle for the series championship.
Tony Hunt and Luis Ramos III are separated by only 43 points, with 66 available. Ramos is seeking his initial USAC driving title, while Hunt is looking for his sixth overall and record fourth in the series. If Hunt emerges with the crown, he would trail only A.J. Foyt (13), Rich Vogler and Sleepy Tripp (9), Mel Kenyon (8) and Michael Lang (7) on the all-time USAC list.
Thursday’s race is the only appearance of the Western Sprints at Irwindale this year. Hunt is a former “Turkey Night” Sprint winner but Cole Whitt won last year’s race.
As usual, the Sprint race will feature a number of “double-duty” drivers who are also competing in the Midgets, like Indy Car veteran Davey Hamilton, Bobby East, Kody and Tanner Swanson, Tracy Hines and Scott Pierovich.
USAC AMSOIL WESTERN SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Tony Hunt-696, 2-Luis Ramos III-653, 3-Scott Pierovich-493, 4-Shanua Hogg-377, 5-JoJo Helberg-333, 6-Gordon Rodgers-324, 7-Marvin Mitchell-293, 8-Tanner Swanson-246, 9-Audra Sasselli-226, 10-Kody Swanson-129.