By Dick Jordan
Saturday’s “Gerhardt Classic” at the Madera (Calif.) Speedway opens the 2011 USAC Western Sprint Car Series and serves as round two of the brand-new Western Classic Racing Series championship, which opened March 11 at Chico, Calif.
Bill Rose of Plainfield, Ind. won the Chico opener but Madera’s pavement should provide some new point lead challengers, including four-time USAC Western Sprint Car Champion Tony Hunt, who made his non-wing dirt Sprint debut at Chico and has a history of winning races at Madera.
Hunt finished a disappointing 24th at Chico but his nine USAC wins at Madera are matched only by the nine scored by Davey Hamilton. Hunt’s six Sprint wins at Madera included two during the 2007 season.
Drivers will be aiming at Michael Lewis’ one-lap Madera qualifying record of 13.398 second, set back in 2004.
USAC WESTERN CLASSIC RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Bill Rose-69; 2-Kyle Hirst-65; 3-Andy Forsberg-64; 4-Colby Copeland-59; 5-Brent Kaeding-56; 6-Scott Hull-51; 7-Tim Sherman-46; 8-Scott Pierovich-45; 9-Bryan Clauson-41; 10-Tim Barber-40;